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Hunger Protest: Residents’ dissatisfaction with the adverse impacts of the government’s economic policies was initially voiced in Lagos last month when traders there shouted at President Bola Tinubu’s convoy, exclaiming, “Ebi n pa wa o” (we are hungry), which gained traction on social media.
Subsequently, protests against economic hardships have spread to other cities across the country. In Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, residents demonstrated against economic challenges. Before this, residents in Kano, Ogun, Niger, and Sokoto states had already staged protests, and organized labor announced a nationwide protest on February 27 and 28 due to the rising cost of living.
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Traditional rulers and leaders in the northern region have also responded to the prevailing harsh economic conditions with veiled threats directed at the Federal Government, met with resistance from other geopolitical zones.
During the 6th executive committee meeting of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council (NTRC) in Kaduna, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Abubakar, expressed concern about the economic hardship, emphasizing that Nigerians are angry and hungry, and the country is sitting on a keg of gunpowder.
He acknowledged the agitation among the populace and the risk of them losing faith in traditional and spiritual leaders. The Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, urged First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu to relay the suffering of Nigerians to the president, emphasizing the need for the government to redouble its efforts to alleviate people’s hardships.
Professor Usman Yusuf, a northern elder, noted that traditional rulers in the north had run out of excuses and recognized the gravity of the people’s silence.
In response to Professor Yusuf’s remarks, an Igbo individual in a viral video questioned the actions of northern leaders during their eight years in office and criticized the threats issued when situations didn’t favor them.
He called for unity in Nigeria and suggested returning to farming if hunger became too severe. Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the Igbo socio-cultural organization, directed groups in the southeast not to join protests against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Chief Emmanuel Inwuanyanwu, the President-General of the organization, acknowledged the unfortunate economic crisis but discouraged participation in protests, challenging those advocating for southeastern involvement to consider past disenfranchisement of Igbo land.
In the southwest, leaders made suggestions to President Tinubu on measures to address the economic challenges and offered their full support. The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdur-rosheed Akanbi, urged northern leaders to encourage youth involvement in agriculture to enhance food production.
He also suggested that President Tinubu open borders for food importation to foster competition and address economic sabotage by local manufacturers. The Oluwo emphasized the need for Nigerians to cooperate with the president in steering the country towards progress and development, acknowledging the challenges inherited from the previous administration. He attributed food shortages and inflation to saboteurs hoarding goods to create scarcity and urged support for the current administration’s efforts.
They should permit President Bola Tinubu to uplift Nigeria and its citizens. The intent behind fostering local production has been misused. Competition should be allowed for certain goods. When there is commercial rivalry and no monopolistic tendency, producers will be forcefully checked.
The Tinubu government should make the same bold decision regarding local producers being manipulated by saboteurs to discredit his administration. I have read reactions from many Nigerians, including northern leaders.
Every patriotic Nigerian will not quickly forget the liabilities left by the immediate past administration. Imputing the blame for the economic woes of the previous administration on the new government is uncharitable. Northern elders should instead encourage their youth to double their interest in agriculture.
“We’ll continue to pacify our people, fish out saboteurs,” says Deji of Akureland, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi. He acknowledges the severe burden the skyrocketing cost of living has placed on Nigerians. He calls on the government at all levels to rise to the challenges before they escalate into a serious crisis.
He emphasizes the need for well-coordinated policies, expressing concern about the dire consequences of continued protests due to current hardships. Traditional rulers will continue to pacify their subjects and discourage them from activities that could plunge the country into crisis. Efforts will be made to identify saboteurs within market systems deliberately causing price hikes.
Eselu of Iselu Kingdom, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, suggests immediate measures to address the high cost of living, including providing palliatives to the less privileged and opening national borders for selected food items to reduce prices. He advocates for quality and price controls to address inflation, urging the federal government to establish these controls urgently.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Yemi Farounbi, notes that food is available in markets but is unaffordable due to inflation. He suggests reviewing economic policies, including the merger of the black market and official market rates, to find solutions. For a long-term solution, he recommends that states focus on producing crops they can grow best, promoting food self-sufficiency.
According to Oba Sunday Amuseghan, Kalasuwe of Apoi land, Ese Odo council area, Nigerians’ expectations have been disappointed by President Bola Tinubu’s performance. He urges Tinubu to act, monitor palliatives, and introduce price controls to halt soaring food prices. He calls for economic restructuring, empowerment of entrepreneurs, and the establishment of more small-scale industries.
The Alawo of Awo-Ekiti, Oba Suleiman Olaleye, advises the president to assist real farmers and promote a long-term solution to food scarcity. He suggests empowering farmers, establishing quality and price controls, and encouraging communities to produce food crops for local consumption.
Olugbon of Orileigbon, Oba Francis Alao, emphasizes the need for government subsidies on consumable goods, subsidies for farmers, and mechanized farming to address food scarcity and rising prices.
The Secretary of the Ekiti State Council of Elders, Mr. Sunday Ajibulu, urges President Bola Tinubu to approve a 60% increase in workers’ salaries, citing the impracticality of citizens surviving on their present income.
A member of the Yoruba Socio-cultural Group, Afenifere, Chief Akin Fasae, highlights the exploitation of the present hardship by unscrupulous individuals and calls on President Tinubu to track and bring them to justice.
