In a bold move on Monday, the United Action Front of Civil Society, a coalition comprising various organized civil society groups, issued a stern warning to all levels of government against any attempts to intimidate protesters during the upcoming nationwide demonstrations scheduled from August 1 to 10, 2024. These protests are aimed at addressing the prevailing hunger crisis in the country.

The coalition’s statement, signed by Wale Okunniyi, the Head of the Secretariat, called on citizens to hold the government accountable for any adverse consequences resulting from the protests.

“These protests have garnered significant momentum on social media, trending under hashtags such as ‘#EndBadGovernance,’ ‘#TinubuMustGo,’ and ‘#Revolution2024,’” noted Okunniyi in the statement. Despite this growing online movement, both the presidency and police authorities have urged youths to abandon their protest plans, citing concerns for public order and safety.

Okunniyi’s statement read, “We wish to advise the Tinubu government to immediately take proactive steps to address the demands and concerns already raised by citizens groups participating in the planned nationwide citizens’ protests, if they are really sincere about averting the mass action beyond grandstanding and hoodwinking of Nigerians. No amount of threats and gimmicks presently being deployed by agents of the Nigerian government can stop the nationwide mass demonstrations.”

The coalition’s primary demands include the urgent reversal of the fuel price from ₦1,000 per litre, its current unofficial selling price, to the pre-January 2023 price of ₦167 per litre. Additionally, they demand a significant reduction in government spending and the high cost of governance, which entails slashing the emoluments and allowances of all elected officials by 50%.

“The government must be held accountable for failing to address these critical issues,” the statement continued. “For the Nigerian Civil Society and citizens, the most fundamental problems of stability, insecurity, and development in Nigeria are entrenched in the undemocratic constitution imposed by the military as decree 24 of 1999. This constitution has been largely corruptive and divisive and must be replaced through a democratic and legitimate process.”

The coalition emphasized that the government’s failure to address these crucial concerns would result in them being held responsible for any unintended consequences arising from the protests.

As the nation braces for the upcoming demonstrations, the spotlight remains on the government’s response to these demands and the potential impact of the protests on Nigeria’s socio-political landscape.

Credit: Punch