AUGUST PROTEST: Obedient Elders council appraises youth

The Delta Obedient Elders’ Council has lauded the resilience of Nigerian youths in organizing the nationwide hunger protest known as #EndBadGovernance, which started on August 1, 2024. In a statement signed by chairman Chris Biose and secretary Solomon Akeni, the council commended the protesters for standing firm against attempts by President Bola Tinubu’s government and its agencies to intimidate them.

The council highlighted that the youths’ refusal to heed the pleas of traditional rulers and religious leaders to halt the protest indicates a widening gap between these institutions and the younger generation. They endorsed the protesters’ demands for a more just and equitable society, which include reducing fuel costs and governance expenses, narrowing the pay gap between political office holders and public servants, eradicating corruption, rehabilitating Nigerian petroleum refineries, and ensuring universal access to basic education.

Expressing solidarity with the protesters, the council acknowledged their demands as essential for a just society. They lamented that the peaceful protest escalated into violence and property damage in some areas, with the police reportedly using live bullets, resulting in about 40 deaths, according to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). The council questioned the police’s reliance on lethal force for crowd control.

The council criticized the government and police for their failure to address the underlying issues that led to the unrest, such as the long-standing practice of underage voting in states like Borno, Kano, Katsina, and parts of Kaduna. They argued that children who are induced to vote may feel entitled to participate in civil protests.

The council also criticized President Tinubu’s national address for not offering new policy measures to meet the protesters’ demands. They found it alarming that he did not address the killings of farmers by armed Fulani herdsmen or the widespread issue of oil theft, which is damaging the economy. Additionally, they condemned the administration’s lack of accountability and failure to investigate the police’s brutal actions against protesters.

In summary, the Delta Obedient Elders’ Council’s statement underscores their support for the protesters’ demands and criticizes the government’s inadequate response to the issues at hand.