CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN KADUNA STATE ARE UNANIMOUSLY AGAINST YOUTHS TO ENGAGE IN ANY PROTEST 01-08-24
By Sadiq Aminu Critical Stakeholders in Kaduna State are unanimously against youths to engage in any protest due to the cosmopolitan nature of the State.
They made their position known during a town hall meeting on the state of the nation held in Kaduna.
Some of the stakeholders are Religious and Traditional Rulers, Kaduna Elders, Women groups, leaders of labour unions, civil society organizations, student bodies as well as Market leaders, Speaker of Kaduna State House of Assembly Yusuf Dahiru Liman,
and other leaders of thoughts.
Speaking at the meeting, the Former Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria in Kaduna, Reverend Joseph Hayab and Sheikh Ahmad Gumi acknowledged that, there was poverty, hunger and people find it difficult to buy fuel and other things in the country .
They revealed that, they are not in support for people of Kaduna State to stage in protest because it might be easily hijacked by hoodlums which according to them, the state has such experienced in some years back.
Reverend Hayab and Sheikh Ahmad Gumi also called on the federal government to address the grievances of the youths in a diplomatic way, emphasizing that protest is not the solution of their agitation.
Addressing the gathering, Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Uba Sani acknowledge that really, Nigerians are going through economic difficulties, explained that, the country is grappling with severe economic strains occasioned by years of economic
mismanagement, corruption and lack of accountability.
“President Tinubu has the unenviable task of cleaning up the mess left by previous administrations and resetting the economy for the good of our country and people. The President has come
up with policies geared towards reinventing the economy and putting the country back on the path to sustainable growth and development”
The Governor stated that, the implementation of some policies by the Present administration must be admit, have been painful, nothing that, the pains are temporary.
According to him, the terrible
economic situation the country was plunged into required surgical operation.
“Let us narrow things down to our state. We are residents of Kaduna. We have the evidence to guide us. We know
the tensions, and we know the history. We know the antecedents
of notable “protests” and where they left us in the past”
Governor Uba Sani who cited examples of various protests in some years in Kaduna, said the protest of February in 2000 has led to over 5000 deaths in about 48 hours in Kaduna State.
“Similarly, In 2011, what began as a free and open protest over presidential election results spilled over into an avalanche of bloodshed. The EndSARS protest of four years ago, is very
fresh in our memories”
According to Governor Uba Sani he has called the meeting to engage deeply with the stakeholders and to urged them not to join the planned protest in the interest of the state stability and progress.
“I have since directed
the Overseer of the Ministry of Internal Security and Home to Affairs to work closely with the heads of security agencies on a constant review of the security situation, and to report to me for prompt and relevant action.
“We have held review meetings
which had in attendance leaderships of NURTW, Okada Riders Union, KekeNapep Operators Association (ACOTMORAN) and other stakeholders central to security management”
The governor emphasized that, at this time, peace and stability are fundamental and the current times demand deep introspection, sound reasoning, high sense of patriotism and sacrificing for the collective good.
Earlier, Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, said he has not received any latter from any group seeking permission to organize protest in the State.
The Emir, Ambassador Ahmad Nuhu Bamali appealed to youths across Kaduna State to shun any plan protest which he said it would not yield any positive result.
Other Stakeholders at the town hall meeting emphasized the importance of using dialogue to resolve any differences Rather than using violence or protest.