Protests: Northern leaders rally round Tinubu

Prominent Nigerians from the 19 states under the aegis of Arewa Initiative for Defence and Promotion of Democracy has declared that Nigerians should ignore sponsored protests staged against the Federal Government in Kano and Niger states respectively.

Arewa Initiative which is also an amalgamation of Pro-Democracy Groups from the 19 Northern states under the Chairmanship of Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji said the harsh economic situation being faced by everybody now, is a fallout of comatose economy handed over to Tinubu by his predecessor.

Some Nigerians particularly in Minna, the capital of Niger State on Monday this week, took to the street, protesting against harsh economic situations in the country arising from astronomical increases in prices of commodities.

But addressing newsmen in Abuja, Chairman of the Arewa Initiative, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, said pockets of protests staged in some states, were uncalled for, as President Bola Tinubu led federal government is already addressing the problems. Flanked by members of the group from across the 19 Northern States , Professor Ma’aji said an eight-month-old government is too early to be assessed, let alone , criticized by people with ulterior motives.

Consequently according to him , the group after an extra ordinary meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, resolved that “ the North is solidly behind President Tinubu and will continue to support and cooperate with him, for actualisation of his Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said: “That the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a lot of problems from the past administration of Muhammadu Buhari which it is currently trying to address.

“For instance, the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazagq and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) had just revealed that the crude oil the country will be getting in the next six months had been sold in advance by the immediate past administration.

“That Nigerians should show patriotism by cooperating with this administration in its bid to finding solutions to the country’s problems such as inflation, corruption, insecurity – banditry and kidnapping that the country is currently facing.

“That those disgruntled politicians and other unpatriotic elements who have perfected plans to mobilise bogus civil society organisations (CSOs) to stage phantom protests across the country to smear the image of this administration should stop their evil machinations.

“That those disgruntled politicians who are using some clerics through misinformation to issue statements condemning this administration without any good reason should desist forthwith in the interest of our beloved nation.”

The group, however, added that it is not averse to any form of legitimate protest to show grievances to government policy or programme provided it is done in good faith and under the laws of the country.

“We call on all Northerners and indeed all Nigerians to continue to support the current administration in its bid to bring Prosperity to our nation.

“That we Northerners are not against Mr President and this administration. We will continue to support and pray for this administration to succeed,” he stressed.

Quadri Olaitan