A group, Yoruba Self-Determination Movement (YSDM) has backed the August 1-10 planned nationwide protest in Nigeria, saying that the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu since assuming office had further impoverished Nigeria and made life unbearable.
YSDM said the planned protest is a clear reaction to the government’s failed economic policies, in which the pain was only suffered by Nigerians and businesses, while government officials were living large.
The group stated this in a statement to the media on Saturday signed by its Secretary Akinwole Okenile, noting that the current hardship in the country was unprecedented.
Okenile said that peaceful protest is protected under the international and African regional human rights frameworks, including the Nigerian constitution and condemned attempts to victimise and freeze accounts of individuals linked to the protest.
“The planned national protest is an organic reaction to the government’s failed economic policies. The protest is about the current insufferable conditions, which are unprecedented for the vast majority of Nigerians.
“Nigerians are crying for help, for equal opportunity, for better living standards, and for the government to respond more effectively to the plight of the people”. “This protest is a clamour for justice in a country where upward mobility is exceedingly difficult.
“Unfortunately,these precious rights of protests are under attack and must be protected from those who are afraid of change and want to keep us perpetually impoverished”, part of the statement read.
The YSDM Secretary further stated that the sweeping reforms introduced by President Tinubu, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies and liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, have inadvertently left many citizens in serious economic hardship.
The statement called for the reversal of the administration’s unpopular policies, noting that the government should show empathy for the difficulties citizens are facing and implement people-centric policies.
The statement added that the move to stop the protest portent danger for democracy in the country if citizens can’t hold government accountable.
According to the statement, “The surge in prices has left many people struggling to afford food, hence the national hunger protests. “The freezing of bank accounts owned by protesters and promoters of this planned protest is a gross violation of rights and an attack on Nigeria’s democracy.
“Our democracy is severely being threatened. This is unacceptable. It is a disgrace that a country like ours is not allowing democracy to thrive.
“What it means is that I cannot hold the government accountable as a young person. The repressive attacks on the protesters should be repelled by organisations and unions across the country”.
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