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By John Azu
A coalition of civil society organisations and national bodies have vowed to shut down the country over increasing insecurity, hunger and hardship.
The grand coalition, which includes trade unions, youth groups, community associations, social movements, faith-based groups and concerned Nigerians, has declared June 12 as a nationwide protest and mass action against the condition of the country.
The country had designated June 12 as Democracy Day with a public holiday, but the coalition say millions of citizens have little to celebrate, according to a statement signed by the National Chairman of the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), Femi Falana (SAN); Hassan Taiwo Soweto – Organizing Committee, #EndbadgovernanceMovement, Lagos State; and the National President, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Yinka Folarin.
“Across the country, communities continue to live in fear as terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements operate with alarming impunity. Innocent Nigerians are being killed, abducted, displaced and traumatized while government responses have remained largely inadequate and ineffective,” the group said.
“We express our solidarity with families of victims of terrorism, banditry and kidnapping across the country. We demand immediate and concrete actions to secure the release of all Nigerians currently held captive by criminal groups in Oyo State, Borno State, Katsina State, Kwara State, Ekiti State, Zamfara State, Kaduna State, Niger State and other parts of the country where citizens have been abducted.
“The Nigerian people deserve a pro-people government that places the protection of lives and property at the core of governance.
“For years, the people have been subjected to repeated assurances that insecurity is being defeated. Yet the killings continue. Communities are attacked, schools are threatened, farmers cannot safely access their farms, highways remain unsafe, and countless families continue to live with the pain of losing loved ones or having relatives in captivity.
“At the same time, the economic situation has become unbearable. The neoliberal policies pursued by the APC administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have resulted in severe hardship for working people and the poor. The removal of fuel subsidy, repeated increases in fuel prices, currency devaluation, rising electricity tariffs and the general commercialization of essential services have pushed millions deeper into poverty. In spite of significant increase in the monthly statutory allocations of the three tiers of government, the people are getting poorer.
“Food prices have skyrocketed. Transportation costs have become unbearable. Small and medium-scale businesses are collapsing under the combined burden of expensive fuel, unstable electricity and declining purchasing power. Workers’ wages remain grossly inadequate while inflation continues to erode incomes.
“The nationwide protest on June 12 therefore marks one of a series of actions aimed at compelling the government to take urgent and meaningful steps to address insecurity and reverse anti-poor economic policies that have plunged millions into misery.
“We call on workers, students, traders, artisans, market women, professionals, unemployed youths, community organizations, religious groups, trade unions and all oppressed Nigerians to begin immediate mobilization in their communities, campuses, workplaces and neighborhoods.
“This protest is about the lives of our children and teachers in captivity. It is about the collective survival of ordinary Nigerians. As a result, the coalition calls on civil society organizations and progressive groups to unite to mobilize the collective power of the Nigerian people to demand the release of all captives and oppose the anti-people policies of the Tinubu anti-poor government which have continued to increase poverty in the land.
“The time has come for Nigerians to speak with one voice and demand security, dignity and a decent standard of living.
“Enough of the killings. Enough of the kidnappings. Enough of the hunger. Enough of the suffering.”
Other signatories to the declaration include: The Organising Secretary of the Nigeria Patriotic Front Movement (NPFM) Yusha’u Sani Yankuzo, Esq; Secretary, Initiative and Mediation, Zauren Tuntuba da Sasanci, Ali Attahiru; Rapper, Singer and Song writer; Folarin Falana (Falz); Executive Director, Moses Oisakede Leadership Foundation, Mike Igaga; President, Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Rufus Olusesan; Segun Oladunni of the Joint Action Front (JAF); General Secretary, Socialist Labour, Abiodun Olamosu; Lead, Calabar Group of Socialists, Jonathan Ugbal; Country Director, Citizens Solution Network, Richard Inoyo; Revolutionary Socialist Movement (RSM), Salako Kayode; Omole Ibukun of the Centre for Creative Change (C4); and the National Coordinator, Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Adaramoye Michael.
There has been an upsurge in mass abductions across the country with the latest being the Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu in Kabba/Bunu Local Government of Kogi where bandits killed the vice principal and two others, including a six year old child.
On May 15, when armed gunmen violently abducted 39 students and seven teachers from three schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, and beheaded two of the teachers while being filmed.
Residents of Borno State had also accused the federal government of silence over the abduction of 42 secondary students of Mussa community in Askira Uba Local Government and a batch of 416 residents of Ngoshe are still being held by armed men.