Obaseki Blasts President Tinubu Over Citizen Hardships, Warns of Security Crackdown on Protest Agitators

In a statewide broadcast ahead of Thursday’s planned hunger protest tagged.

#EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki on Wednesday read the riot act to all those he feared would want to use the protest as pretext to destroy and attack business premises and public infrastructure “in pursuit of their obnoxious political objectives”, warning that “the Government would bring the full weight of the law on them and spare no resources in bringing them to justice”.

Calling on members of the public to be vigilant and not allow miscreants to hijack the peaceful protests “to actualise their devious plans to loot shops and markets and cause mayhem in the state, Governor Obaseki said he had “mobilised security agencies in the state to be on high alert and ensure that law and order is maintained and provide protection for genuine protesters who must follow the law and ensure that they carry out their protest in a peaceful and orderly manner”.

Giving President Bola Tinubu a hard knock for his “not properly thought through” policy measures, which he noted “have now put our people in dire straits”, the governor said he had been very critical “of the poor fiscal and monetary policy management by the federal government”, which he posited, “has led to this unfortunate situation”. He recalled how last year, he had expressed disappointment over how fuel subsidy was removed without proper planning, a situation, he lamented, “has now led millions of Nigerians into extreme poverty and untold hardship”.

While however appealing to the organisers of the protest to consider adopting other forms of protests outside marching and processions on the streets, Obaseki
Reeling out several interventions by his government to ameliorate the plight of Edo people,
Governor Obaseki stated that though these well-intended measures yielded positive results and brought some relief, the government was aware that the people were still burdened by the worsening prevailing macroeconomic conditions in the country.

According to him, “In the light of these pervading challenges and difficulties, it is not surprising that some groups have decided to spearhead protests to call attention to the deteriorating and difficult socio-economic circumstances faced by Nigerians, including citizens of Edo State. Edo people have the right to express their displeasure with their current living conditions through protests, which is a fundamental human right, but we appeal that this should be done without disrupting public peace and destroying the property of other citizens”.

Part of the broadcast read:
“My dear good people of Edo State, it has become necessary to address you in the light of the palpable tension and agitation across the country in the wake of the calls for #EndBadGovernance protests by the citizenry.

“This protest is obviously the result of the difficult living conditions which Nigerians have had to endure, particularly over the last one year, arising from various policies that have been implemented by the Federal Government.

“These policies have taken severe toll on citizens who have had to endure astronomic high food prices, high transportation costs, galloping inflation and loss of operating capital by small business owners across the country.

“It has become evident that a lot of the policy measures undertaken were not properly thought through, leading to adverse consequences that have now put our people in dire straits.”
“As your governor, I have been very critical of the poor fiscal and monetary policy management by the federal government, which has led to this unfortunate situation. You may recall how last year; I expressed disappointment over how fuel subsidy was removed without proper planning which has now led millions of Nigerians into extreme poverty and untold hardship.

“The decision on exchange rate unification by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exacerbated the cost of living and low-capacity utilisation in the productive sector, resulting in high cost of goods and services. With the move, the Naira significantly lost its value, without strategically thinking of how to cushion the resultant difficulties.

“With the worsening security situation across the country, many farmers have been displaced and cannot produce sufficient food, which has been largely responsible for high food prices. Insecurity and rampant corruption have affected our ability to produce sufficient crude oil even to meet our OPEC quota. The current average production of 1.3 million barrels per day, cannot earn enough foreign exchange to meet the current needs of Nigeria.

“In Edo State, we have taken several actions within our constitutional authority to reduce the suffering and hardship of our people by showing empathy and supporting our people to weather and survive this trying time despite the challenges witnessed across the nation.

“Some of these measures include raising the minimum wage for workers to ₦70,000 to boost their purchasing power – the first state in the country to do so. We also introduced a free transport scheme along the routes operated by the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS). We extended free Wi-Fi services to public spaces to help citizens telecommute and kick-started a state-wide feeding for the vulnerable, implemented in partnership with Christians and Muslim institutions.

“Even though these well-intended measures yielded positive results and brought some relief, we are aware that our people are still burdened by the worsening prevailing macroeconomic conditions in the country.

“In the light of these pervading challenges and difficulties, it is not surprising that some groups have decided to spearhead protests to call attention to the deteriorating and difficult socio-economic circumstances faced by Nigerians, including citizens of Edo State. Edo people have the right to express their displeasure with their current living conditions through protests, which is a fundamental human right, but we appeal that this should be done without disrupting public peace and destroying the property of other citizens.

“We, however, have it on good authority that some people within the political space are plotting to use the excuse of the protest to cause disruptions and also destroy public infrastructure. Our intelligence reveals that plans have been perfected to infiltrate the planned protest marches to cause wanton destruction of lives and property. Armed thugs and some cult groups have been procured and mobilised to attack and burn public buildings and offices, including the Secretariat Complex in Benin City and several newly renovated schools and healthcare centers in several parts of the state.

“Their motive is to settle political scores ahead of the September 2024 gubernatorial elections. We have taken this intelligence very seriously in the light of the massive mobilisation of thugs on the 18th of July 2024 in Benin airport and the rampant shooting which led to the death of a police officer.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on the organisers of this protest to consider adopting other forms of protests outside marching and processions on the streets. I am calling on members of the public to be vigilant and not allow miscreants to hijack the peaceful protests to actualise their devious plans to loot shops and markets and cause mayhem in our dear State.

“I have mobilised security agencies in the state to be on high alert and ensure that law and order is maintained and provide protection for genuine protesters who must follow the law and ensure that they carry out their protest in a peaceful and orderly manner.

“Let me use this broadcast to warn all those who want to use the protest as pretext to destroy and attack business premises and public infrastructure in pursuit of their obnoxious political objectives that the Government would bring the full weight of the law on them and spare no resources in bringing them to justice.

“I enjoin all law-abiding citizens to go about their lawful businesses without fear, as the government remains committed to protecting lives and property and will continue to work for the growth and progress of our dear state.”