Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with skyrocketing inflation, a national currency in free-fall and millions of people struggling to buy food
The Yoruba Union, known as Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorúbá, has condemned Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for his perceived failure to address the demands of #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The union accused President Tinubu of being out of touch with the current realities and aspirations of the Nigerian populace. The group described Tinubu as “a blind man” for ignoring the voices of Nigerians calling for an end to bad governance and criticised him for not reversing the controversial fuel subsidy removal.
In a statement released on Monday by its Country Director, Princess Balogun, and signed by its Convener, Olusola Oluwaseyi Badero, the organisation described Tinubu as a disgrace to the Yoruba race. Tinubu was criticised for allegedly exploiting the South West region’s political influence to gain power and imposing policies that harm the Yoruba people.
According to Badero, Tinubu’s anti-people policies have devastated local businesses, perpetuated poverty, and denied citizens their rights to peaceful protest and demand policy reforms. They argue that Tinubu’s actions have forced many into beggary, undermining the well-being and dignity of the Yoruba people.
“At a time when citizens are demanding change and transparency, the President remains deaf and dumb, as if living in a primitive era,” said the statement.
It noted that instead Tinubu sent security operatives to use force on the citizens, depriving them of their rights and privileges.
“As an organisation, we have met with all our members in the South West and instructed them to turn out en masse following President Tinubu’s recent nationwide broadcast. We are not backing down. We have been monitoring the situation with our lawyers and working with other organisations to secure the release of the protesters who were arrested during the protest.
“Let it be known to the public that we are filing a petition with all embassies in the European Union, the British High Commission, and the Canadian Embassy regarding the violation of human rights and the arbitrary arrest of our people.”
Badero said Tinubu is again allegedly planning to use security agencies to suppress protesters who are voicing their concerns about poor governance in the country.
“Over the past few days, more than 30 people have been killed by Nigerian security operatives. Yet, Tinubu has failed to address the issue or call for the arrest of those responsible for the killings,” he said.
“President Tinubu also failed to address all the demands made by concerned citizens and instead turned himself into a propagandist, attempting to justify the widespread hunger as a general issue. From the look of things, there are covert moves to undermine the will of the over 200 million Nigerians by using force against peaceful protesters. This could lead to a revolution if not handled properly, as Tinubu still has time to address the people’s demands.”
Badero said the citizens are tired of Tinubu’s anti-people policies and want him to reverse them, but the president claimed to know better than the people affected by his policies.
“Tinubu, who is living large on the people’s sweat, failed to understand that people would rather die in the streets while demanding their rights than die at home from hunger,” he said.
Badero added that if Tinubu claimed to be blind to what is happening in the North, people around him should inform him that the revolution he is trying to avoid has already started, and no one can eradicate an idea that has come to stay.
Millions of Nigerians took to the streets on Thursday, 1 August, to protest the prevailing hunger and abuse of power in the country.
Demonstrations continued on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, Oyo, Ogun, Rivers and other states.
More than 20 people have been killed across Nigeria since the #EndBadGovernance protest commenced. At least 13 people were shot dead by police across the country on the first day.
Police dismissed the information.
Amnesty International asked the government to probe the killings and “highhandedness” of security operatives.
On Friday, 2 August, the Nigerian military asked both international and local media to stop covering nationwide protests over hunger and prevailing hardship under President Bola Tinubu’s government.
The military chief, Christopher Musa had announced that the military may step in if the protest escalates.
Mr Musa’s call for a media blackout on the protests mirrors the actions taken during the EndSARS protests on October 20, 2020, when electricity was disconnected, and telecom networks were down at the Lekki Toll Gate before soldiers opened live rounds on protesters.
Both local and international media have reported developments on the protests, which have seen thousands of Nigerians take to the streets over the worsening cost of living crisis.
On Thursday, poor telecom network coverage hampered the dissemination of information as protesters marched on the streets.
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) slowed down internet speed across the country to suppress the flow of information from the protesters to other Nigerians and the outside world, according to an exclusive report by Peoples Gazette.
The network issue continued over the weekend.
Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with skyrocketing inflation, a national currency in free-fall and millions of people struggling to buy food. Only two years ago Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria is projected to drop to fourth place this year.
The pain is widespread. Unions strike to protest salaries of around $20 a month. People die in stampedes, desperate for free sacks of rice. Hospitals are overrun with women wracked by spasms from calcium deficiencies.
Although President Bola Tinubu increased the minimum wage — after strike action and months-long negotiations with labour unions — from N30,000 to N70,000, his government has increased spending for officials at a time of nationwide starvation.
For workers earning the new N70,000, or $43, per month minimum wage, capricious inflation and naira value have inflicted too much damage for the changes to make any difference in their lives.
The crisis is largely believed to be rooted in two major changes implemented by Mr Tinubu, elected 14 months ago: the partial removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the currency, which together have caused major price rises.
A nation of entrepreneurs, Nigeria’s more than 200 million citizens are skilled at managing in tough circumstances, without the services states usually provide. They generate their own electricity and source their own water. They take up arms and defend their communities when the armed forces cannot. They negotiate with armed kidnappers when family members are abducted.
But right now, their resourcefulness is being stretched to the limit.
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