The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Ohanaeze Ndigbo have distanced themselves from a planned protest by certain shadowy groups.
In a similar stance, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani cautioned Northern youths against joining the protest. However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the grievances of those planning the protest.
ACF National Chairman Mamman Mike Osuman emphasized the North’s poor performance on indices of human progress, including poverty, illiteracy, health, and security, and dissociated the group from the proposed protest, calling it ill-timed and counter-productive. He stated, “We at ACF remain committed to articulating and defending the interests of the peoples of the North through our various activities.” Osuman highlighted the ACF’s recent constitutional review efforts and their submission to the National Assembly’s joint committees on constitution review during a meeting with the Kaduna State governor.
Governor Sani urged Northerners to avoid toxic politics and work together to address regional challenges. He advised focusing on regional insecurity, which has hindered development, instead of protesting.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, announced that the Southeast would not participate in the protest. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze reiterated that the current economic situation would not last forever, emphasizing that “tough times never last, but tough people do.”
The statement also criticized the remarks of the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who claimed that those planning the protests were supporters of Peter Obi and should be held responsible for any resulting crisis. Ohanaeze condemned Onanuga’s comments as inflammatory and hateful.
Governor Sani dismissed allegations that President Tinubu is against the North, calling them false and absurd. He highlighted Tinubu’s support for Northern state governments and cited a National Bureau of Statistics survey showing the North’s disproportionate share of Nigeria’s multidimensional poverty.
Sani lamented the North’s educational challenges, with UNICEF reporting that 70% of Nigeria’s 18.3 million out-of-school children are in the North. He emphasized that insecurity has exacerbated food insecurity, child and maternal mortality, and infrastructure decay in the region.
He called for a collective effort to address the North’s developmental challenges, criticizing the prevalent toxic politics and lack of introspection. Sani urged the ACF to play a significant role in refocusing Northerners on development.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, also urged Abuja residents to ignore the protest, warning it could be hijacked by criminals and lead to the destruction of new infrastructure.
Additionally, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and NLC in Jigawa State declared they would not participate in the protest. During a meeting with Governor Umar Namadi in Dutse, CAN leader Rev. Father Maurice Hassan and NLC Chairman Sunusi Alhassan expressed their commitment to peace.
The Justice Forum, an APC group in Lagos State, urged calm and dialogue, recalling the hijacking of the ENDSARS protest by disgruntled elements, which led to loss of lives and property. Its leader in Ikeja Division, James Faleke, highlighted the positive impacts of Tinubu’s policies and urged continued support for the President’s efforts to stabilize the economy.
Faleke, chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance, noted Tinubu’s approval of a new minimum wage, removal of duties on essential food items, and student loan initiatives. He called on lawmakers and party leaders to educate the public on Tinubu’s policies and encourage patience.
(TheNation)