By Ejiro Nesisa
As 1st of August,2024, the day earmarked for Nigerians’ (nationwide) hunger protest draws near, the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Ltd, a private surveillance organization in Nigeria, High Chief (Dr) Government Ekpomupolo a.k.a Tompolo, The Ibe-Ebidouwei of the Ijaw Nation, has appealed the proponents of the nationwide hunger protest to have a rethink as the President,Bola Tinubu’s administration is ready to revamp the nation’s economy to put smiles on the people’s faces.
In a press statement signed by High Chief Dr Government Ekpomupolo himself and made available to newsmen said, while it is accepted that there is hardship in the land, it is not protest that would redirect the country to the right course. He said, the hunger being experienced in the land did not just start today. The statement further said, since Bola Tinubu assumed office, he has been working round the clock to ensure that things work well in the country.
Part of the statement reads:” Since the administration of President Bola Tinubu started, he is working hard to revamp the economy with well thought policies and programmes”.
The statement said, he(Tompolo) is of the belief that one day, since Nigeria is blessed with natural and human resources, the country would find its way to the promised land in all ramifications. Part of the statement reads:”.Nigeria is blessed with resources both natural and human and we are capable of finding our way to the promised land where our clinics deliver healthcare,our children are in school and our infrastructure and utilities actually work. But it cannot happen in a day“.
The statement further said, while the citizens have the right to question Government’s policies and programmes if they do not meet their expectations,protest is not usually the best option as it can be high jacked by unscrupulous elements to disrupt the wheel of progress when things have begun to get better in the country.
Part of the statement reads:”However,the organizers of this proposed hardship protest must know that the timing is wrong, and the protest may cause more harm than good to the economy and security; as security reports have indicated that the protest will be hijacked by unscrupulous elements. But protests have also been known to halt progress, when they were ill-timed. When things are beginning to be done right, what is often needed is patience”.
According to the statement, for every protest, it is dialogue that follows which can bring about solution,not protest. According to the statement,as it stands, the current threat of protest has actually has achieved, to a large extent, its aims as the President has assured he would do the needful.
Part of the statement reads:” You must agree with me that after every protest, it is the dialogue that follows that yields fruits not the protest itself. I may also add that the current threat of protest has actually achieved its aim, as Mr President has said it loud and clear that he has heard the voice of prospective protesters. Let us all engage in dialogue”.According to the statement, Tompolo has added his voice to other patriotic Nigerians to appeal to prospective protesters to shelve the proposed protest and engage governments at all levels with dialogue to find lasting solutions to the country’s myriad problems.