Hardship: Varsity dons differ on youth protest

Divergent views, even among the academics, have continued to trail the planned strike by Nigerian youths against the perceived socioeconomic hardship in the country.

While Professor Abdulmumini Yinka Ajia of Lincoln University Missouri, in the United States of America (USA), threw his weight behind what he called a rescue move, Dr. Adelodun Sadraq of the University of Abuja called for caution, advising them to retrace their steps.

Both spoke during the week at different press chats in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to the Associate Professor of Business Administration, “the hardship in the land is much; the situation is now desperate. It’s like the president is insensitive. Only lawful and peaceful protest would bend him towards the people’s plight.”

He stated that: “It (protest) is an expected development. The hardship in Nigeria is very concerning; it is a bitter pill to swallow. In the end, it is expected that the executive and the lawmakers would sit and address the issues that matter.”

Ajia warned: “Those restraining the protest and calling for continued dialogue are mistaken, though the dialogue they seek can be ongoing while the protest is ongoing. I agree with the protesters whose reasons are what Nigerians are yearning for.

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“I have been following and monitoring President Bola Tinubu since 1999. He is not truthful; I don’t trust him. Imagine, it took the federal government 14 months to negotiate and agree on the new minimum wage; to call for another negotiation with the protesters over the poor socioeconomic situation would certainly be a wild goose chase,” Ajia posited.

In his submission, the financial management expert and lecturer at the University of Abuja, Dr. Adelodun Sadraq merely advised the youths planning to retrace their steps.

Instead, Sadraq said the youths should employ dialogue in resolving issues with the federal government, adding that it’s only through dialogue that they can understand the situation at hand and join the government in proffering solutions to the problems.

Sadraq enjoined Nigerians lamenting the present economic hardship to rally around President Tinubu for the success of his economic transformation programs and policies.

According to him, the president’s moves “if tolerated and endured are the needed soothing balm that will propel Nigeria to greater heights.”

Sadraq blamed successive administrations for the present poor economic situation in the country, noting that, “the present economic woes did not just happen. It has been ongoing and dragging till now, thus the desired solution may not as well be spontaneous.”

Expressing optimism that things would change positively before the year runs out, Sadraq predicted a major shakeup in the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and telecommunications, noting that the development would strengthen the economy.

“There’s a major shakeup to happen this year. Initially, the government was letting its plan out before its implementation; now it has realised that the tactics often defeat the plan. It has now decided to keep mum about it till it is ready to launch it.

“Nigerians should just be calm and take it easy; the situation on the ground is not what anyone can fix in a jiffy.”

He insisted that the situation attracts aggressive moves from patriots like President Tinubu as well as perseverance from Nigerians to understand and support his efforts.