The United Action Front of Civil Society has issued a stern warning to all levels of government: intimidation tactics against protesters during the planned nationwide protests from August 1 to 10 will not be tolerated. We all know the drill in this country, protests get hijacked by hoodlums, but let’s not pretend we don’t know who’s behind it. This time, the civil society group is taking a stand, making it clear that no one should be sponsoring troublemakers, and every so-called hoodlum should act sensibly.
What They Are saying
The group, represented by Wale Okunniyi, Head of the Secretariat, also urged citizens to hold the government accountable for any fallout from the protests. The protest, organized by certain activists, has been gaining momentum on social media with hashtags like #EndBadGovernance, #TinubuMustGo, and #Revolution2024. Despite the presidency and police authorities urging youths to drop the plan, the movement continues to grow.
In their statement, the civil society group advised the Tinubu administration to take immediate and proactive steps to address the demands raised by citizens.
“If the government is truly sincere about preventing mass action, beyond mere grandstanding and deceiving Nigerians, no amount of threats and tricks by the government can stop these nationwide demonstrations,” the statement read.
Why It Matters
The citizens’ demands are clear. First, they want the fuel price, which has unofficially soared to ₦1,000 per liter, to be reverted to the pre-January 2023 price of ₦167 per liter. Second, they demand a drastic reduction in government wastefulness and the high cost of governance. This includes slashing the excessive salaries and allowances of all elected officials by fifty percent.
The statement emphasized that the government’s failure to address these critical issues is the root cause of Nigeria’s instability, insecurity, and underdevelopment. It highlighted that the current constitution, imposed undemocratically by the military as Decree 24 of 1999, has been corruptive and divisive. The civil society group insists that the only remedy is to replace this constitution through a democratic and legitimate process.
In light of these points, the civil society group holds the government responsible for not taking urgent steps to address the critical concerns and interests of Nigerians, which are driving the planned nationwide protests. Any unintended consequences from the protests will also be on the government’s head.
Bottom Line
So, fellow Nigerians, what’s your take on these protests? Are you with the movement, or do you think the government can pull a fast one on us again?
