From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
In order to address the alarming trend of protests in the country, two non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Owojori Network Consult and Young Alliance for Good Governance in Africa (YAGA), a centre for reform and public advocacy, have appealed to the federal government to create a platform for dialogue with protesters.
They made their plea at a news conference in Abuja.
Speaking on the protests, the Country Director of Owojori Network Consult, Alhaji Bayero, lamented that the unfortunate incidents called for constructive dialogue with the government as they are currently affecting the country’s economy.
Bayero added that the government should demonstrate commitment to reforms, accountability, citizen engagement, and social integration.
‘We gather today to address the alarming trend of activities across the country, where young Nigerians have thronged into the streets to protest against hunger and bad governance,’ he noted.
He described the protests as worrisome, hence the need for dialogue to stop the violence across the country.
‘The unfortunate incident is getting more and more troubling, hence our patriotic call, urging all parties to cease hostilities and engage in constructive dialogue with the government,’ Bayero emphasised.
The Director of the Owojori Network Consult also called for constructive engagement with media influencers and celebrities as mediating voices between the government and the people.
Alhaji Bayero further recommended the promotion of the hashtag #EmbraceDialogue across all social media platforms to serve as a solidarity campaign to calm tensions in the country.
Earlier, the Country Director of the Young Alliance for Good Governance in Africa (YAGA), Gabriel Ashibi, said the essence of their intervention was to build a bridge between the government and the people, hence the need for media influencers to make deliberations fruitful.
‘What we are doing now is seeing that we are going to stand as a bridge so both the government and protesters will meet to address this unrest situation in the country,’ Ashibi added.
Edwin Onwe Wisdom, the founder of Dan Afric Advocacy, called on Nigerians to give room for negotiation, adding that it is in the process of peaceful negotiation that most of the issues raised can be resolved.
‘The president addressed the nation, so both those that are directly or indirectly engaging in the protest should embrace peace and end the protest. All we are saying is that we should give room for negotiation because it is at the table of negotiation that we can come together to agree whether to remove the subsidy or continue with it,’ he noted.
‘Subsidy removal is one of the demands of the protesters. Even if only that is dealt with, other issues might also necessitate that Nigerian youths will go to the streets to protest again,’ Wisdom stressed.