The President must engage protesters now

SIR: Just on the first day of what promises to be the Rage of Ages demonstration cum protest, casualties’ figures have started flickering in from different locations in the country. As Nigeria appears to be going up in flames, the Nigerian President must act now! The long-suppressed grievances and mounted displeasure of the hapless people of Nigeria now have a rare opportunity to be vented out.

The unresolved cases of harsh economic conditions which have crippled the corporate and individual socioeconomic well-being have taken a drastic dimension only the courageous intervention of the President may help to control. But he appears to have been successfully cordoned off the ongoing uprising in the country. As of the time of filing this report, the nationwide protests have already adopted critically dangerous proportions, especially in the northern region.

The clarion call for the EndBadGovernance Protest in Nigeria is long overdue but for the endurance of the good people of Nigeria, it delayed or deferred to date. To forestall further wanton destruction of public facilities and property, the state governments of Kano State and Kaduna State have imposed curfew in their states.

In damage control precepts, it is well understood that as a proverb instructively forewarn “strike while the iron is hot” or “make hay while the sun shines.” He who consults the traditional doctor is requested to bring a single foul that costs less to appease the gods. If he defers actions, the time will come when the offer of elephants, hippopotamuses, or lions will not suffice to placate the angry gods. In the absence of the President’s rapid response to the nationwide vehement demonstration that is daily being turned to lawlessness, the military has sounded a warning that they will take action if the protest persists.

It is not enough that on the eve of the protest, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu mandated his ministers to reel out their respective accomplishments thus far perhaps just to placate the protesters. Unknown to those in the corridors of power that the only thing that a hungry person values when on an empty stomach is visible food but not homilies or motivational speeches.
Steve Obum Orajiaku.