News Editor
By Edwin Philip
The President of Igbo Community Association Nasarawa State, Chief Innocent Igwe, has applauded the #Endbadgovernance protesters in the State expecially the youths for not being violent and destructive in the quest to exercise their constitutional right and freedom to protest.
The President of the Igbo association emphasized that when certain policies are not favourable to the citizens resulting in hardship as currently experienced in the country, people can protest in different ways and countrywide protest which began on August 1, 2024 against the reform policies of president Bola Tinubu such as the removal of fuel supply, floating of the Naira and failure to address cost of living and governance amongst others is demonstration of the acceptance of democracy and freedom by citizens to make sure governance works for the people.
The Nasarawa State Igbo Community Association president in an exclusive interview, further disclosed to TMS news in Lafia that the youth in the State expecially the State capital protested with some level of decorum as it did not allow their expression of frustration to degenerate into looting and destruction of valuebles, public or privately owned.
He commended the Governor Abdullahi Sule for his ability to provide the needed security and the maturity with which he handled “such a sensitive atmosphere which overwhelmedsome State governments.”
The Igbo leader appreciated the wise counsel of the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage retired, and the state council of chiefs in ensuring that the peaceful nature of the people of Nasarawa State was not truncated.
Igbo Community in Nasarawa State, had earlier issued a statement before the commencement of the protest, urging its members not to be involved in the protest as it may not be a means to an end in solving the miraid of issues confronting the nation. As the President General, he thanked the traditional ruler of the Igbo people in Nasarawa State, Igwe Nathaniel Nduba Ude and members of his cabinet as well as Chief Joseph Ugueze an elder Stateman, for adminishing Ndi igbo in Nasarawa State not to partake in the protest no matter how peaceful they intended to do it.
Chief innocent Igwe, the Igbo Community Association president in Nasarawa, however acknowledged that there is indeed hunger in the country and the people are battling to survive with prices of commodities and the cost of living reaching the rooftop thereby causing frustration among citizens, said protest alone cannot solve it, advising that citizens should engage in dialogue in line with president Tinibu’s broadcast on the fourth day of the protest calling for a ceasastion of the action due to the widespread violence and deaths that accompanied the exercise in some States of the
Federation.
The Igbo leader further advocated that government should look into the demands of the protesters and the plights of Nigerians by amending its reform agenda to wear human face, urging them to look into the state of the petroleum refineries in Nigeria and ensure that they are put to use, as it would make petroleum product available, affordable and accessible, ro avert the high cost of transportation which is hinged on high cost of petroleum product and in turn affect the prices of commodities in the markets generally.
He advised government at all levels to ensure the implementation of the minimum wage agreed with labour unions and provide employment for the teaming unemployed youths in the country, who are always available for crime and willingness to perpetrate mayhem because of non meaningful engagement.
