The Afenifere has distanced from the call by some calling on the Yoruba not to join the protest called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against the President Bola Tinubu administration and its policies.
In a statement by its national publicity secretary, Afenifere, Mr Gboyega Adejumo and the deputy publicity secretary, Mr Justice Faloye, the group wondered if the Yoruba should not exercise their right to protest by joining the NLC and other protesters concerning the tough times Nigerians are facing presently.
Noting that the Afenifere has always supported the right to protest in a democracy from when the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo protested against the colonial constitutions of 1946 and 1949 that did not allow for full federalism, the group wondered what some persons were trying desperately to protect in antagonizing a protest against the Tinubu administration.
The group noted that Tinubu himself was an active protester against President Jonathan on issues such as subsidy removal, Boko Haram Terror and on the abduction of the Chibok girls.
Referencing Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s stance for social welfarism, the group said no socially responsible government would arbitrarily float its currency and remove petrol subsidy not thinking of the multiplier effects of such removal on small and medium scale enterprises which dominate the economy.
The group wondered why the people should be allowed to continue to suffer in silence without voicing their displeasure in protest which is their legitimate rights.
The statement read: “If ever Afenifere was to advise against a protest, it would be based on a solid policy direction and not “shallow tribal sentiments to silence the pains, hunger and anger of the masses.
“The Afenifere will not also interfere with the peoples’ resolve to exercise their constitutional rights, of which The right to protest is an integral part of their Fundamental Human Rights.
“The Afenifere from her inception in 1951 to date and having in her fold a succession of seasoned economists and following our indomitable belief system in Democratic Welfarism will rather hesitate in vouching for Tinubu’s IMF’s inclined anti-people policies which have failed in almost every country where such policies have been implemented.
“The International Monetary Fund and The World Bank that inspired and lauded Tinubu’s removal of subsidies and floating of Naira in July 2023, released a report this month projecting that the policies would create more hardship, with 44% inflation and devaluation of Naira to over N2000 to $1 in 2024, with recession projected to actively remain with us till the year 2028.
“The Afenifere has never and will never engage in fooling the masses, especially when it is clear millions will slip further into poverty, losing their property and lives. Are people to suffer in silence for untold number of years because they are Yoruba?
“If the United Kingdom or United States remove subsidies today, they are likely to face all manners of civil revolts. The truth is that pure capitalism with no government intervention and subsidies died with the 1917 Russian Revolution, as all capitalist nations in fear of revolution introduced social welfarism policies with unemployment, health, education, housing and other subsidies.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo adopted the social welfarism with his free education, free health and other social programs to empower the then Western Region of which the Yoruba were an integral part.
“The focus on the consumer element of subsidies blinded the government to the huge multiplier effects that fuel subsidies has on the economy.”
“Also, no socially responsible government would allow its floating currency to fall below 15 percent unless there is visible destruction of productive capabilities due to war and or a natural disaster.
“Currently, Nigeria suffers not from such a visible destruction. The United Kingdom of Britain set a 6 percent limit when they floated the British Pound in the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in order to unify their currencies for the proposed single currency, the Euro.
“However, when on Black Wednesday September 16 1992, currency speculators led by George Soros attacked the Pound and it fell beyond the 6 percent mark by closing time of 7pm the same day, the British government halted the floating and exited the European Exchange Mechanism immediately.
“So it begs the question that what lower limit did the President Tinubu set for floating the Naira, or was it just pushed out of the plane with no monetary policy parachute? The Naira has lost at the least, 100 percent of its value since June 2023 and continues to fall due to obvious currency speculation which the government has done nothing about. It is human to err and President Tinubu must pull the brakes on his neo-liberal policies before he damages the social fabric of this nation, irreplaceably.
“All capitalist nations are sustained with subsidies used to pacify their masses, even when it is evident that there is some abuse in welfare benefits and agricultural subsidies. It is illogical to claim that corruption in petrol subsidies justifies its stoppage while palliatives are disbursed through more opaque and corruptible avenues.
“And, what are palliatives. A good reference to the Dictionary meaning of “Palliatives”, makes it clear, it is never meant to be a cure — “a medicine or form of medical care that relieves symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.
“The focus on the consumer element of subsidies blinded the government to the huge multiplier effects that fuel subsidies has on the economy. The Nigerian economy is largely based on small and medium enterprises that rely on cheap fuel. Transporters, barbers, salons, metalworks, hospitality business and even processing industries of food, beverages and tobacco are being destroyed with this policy.
“Also, over 70 percent of raw materials used in our local production are imported, as we also import the vast majority of our consumer goods, therefore both manufacturers and importers are adversely affected by the mindless devaluation. This is leading to foreign manufacturers leaving Nigeria, causing more unemployment. So although Afenifere is not organizing any protest on its own or in a coalition at the moment, we respect the constitutional rights of those organizing or partaking in civil protests.
“The proof of Afenifere is in our activism to better the lives of Yoruba and all humanity, and not as paid voices of the government in power, regardless of tribe and religion.”