Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria at the weekend implored on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to “shun politics and address the current hardship and hunger in the country”.
According to the CSOs, “the president’s threat to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other voices speaking out over what is happening in the country will not solve any problem”.
The CSOs therefore called on President Tinubu not to play politics with the country’s present situation but to move quickly to address the problems on ground.
The CSOs reacted to the President’s expression of anger last week following a nationwide strike called by Labour last Tuesday, accusing the workers’ union of playing politics about the cry of hunger, challenging them to file a candidate in 2027 and see.
However, some Nigerians are reported to have looted trucks and food stores in Minna in Niger State, Zaria in Kaduna State and at the weekend in Abuja.
Abuja residents broke into the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry’s warehouse and looted grains and other food and even building materials items.
Reacting, the CSOs asked the President to view what the NLC and other groups are doing as a wake-up call, rather than waiting for the issues to get out of hand.
The CSOs included Transparency International (TI), the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG).
Speaking through their leader, Awwal Musa Rafsanjani, the CSOs said that NLC and other voices should not be silenced, adding that even though the President is not entirely to blame for the hardship, he should act fast to turn things around before it gets out of hand.
“It is important that our government becomes responsible and responsive.
“President Tinubu knows that Nigerians are suffering. What we expect is for the government to address the issues being raised by the CSOs and the NLC.
“The NLC and CSOs are not antagonising President Tinubu, but they are presenting the voices of the voiceless Nigerians.
“NLC, CSOs are helping in presenting Nigerians’ issues so that the government can address it because without the government doing anything, things will get out of hand,” Rafsanjani said.
He added that the government should see the NLC and the CSOs, not as enemies, but as groups that want a better Nigeria.
“The NLC and the CSOs are just telling the government about the hardship and the hunger Nigerians are facing so that the Nigerian government can solve the issues.
“It should not be about threats. Government should be happy with NLC and CSOs because these groups don’t want the issues to get out of hand,” Rafsanjani said.
He further reminded the Tinubu administration to stop reckless expenditure and corruption trailing the administration almost on every of its departments.
“Government should be happy that NLC and CSO are the ones helping in presenting issues that are affecting Nigerians.
“But if the president resorts to bullying and attacking the NLC, renting voices to suppress CSOs and labour, the country will not go anywhere.
“Let Tinubu address the challenges and listen to CSOs and the NLC and not play politics with what is happening.
“We know that he is not the one that created the problem. But he is a leader who must stop politics and address the issues.
“President Tinubu should see reason with the NLC and CSOs and address the hunger and suffering Nigerians are facing,” Rafsanjani stressed.
