High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, has called on organizers of the proposed nationwide protest to reconsider their plans and listen to the pleas of well-meaning Nigerians to halt the action.
In a statement on Friday, Tompolo emphasized that while citizens have the right to protest, the current hardships faced by the country did not originate within the past year under President Bola Tinubu’s administration but have been long-standing issues.
He urged patience and dialogue, highlighting the administration’s efforts towards national reformation and economic improvement.
His statement reads in full: “I have watched with trepidation our nation’s continued efforts to rise above poverty, disease and want. I have continued to believe we will one day rise above these pitfalls of development and take our place in the comity of nations.
“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 most important question in nation building is not are we there now, but, are we pushing in the right direction.
“I sincerely believe that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is determined to take us in the direction of national reformation. I believe this because of the bold and courageous decisions which he took from his very first day in office. Only a man with clarity of vision would attempt such change of direction in his first day in office. Are we there now? No, but we are well on our way.
“I therefore wish to add my voice to that of many well-meaning Nigerians, including our revered traditional rulers, on this call to shelve the proposed hardship protest billed to begin on the first of August, 2024. It is undeniable that there is hunger and hardship in the country and it is not an excuse that the hunger and hardship did not start today. But obviously, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working hard to revamp the economy with well thought out policies and programmes, addressing the twin issues of economy policy and security, which all agree are at the base of all other problems in the country. I am aware of Mr. President’s efforts to get things right in the country, and truly things are getting better. For instance, there is great improvement in the oil and gas sector in the last one year, which is still the main source of our economy.
“I am equally aware of the right of the citizenry to protest government policies and programmes in any country. It is one sure way for the citizens to participate effectively in governance, by checking the excesses of any government. 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. However, the organizers of this proposed hardship protest must know that the timing is wrong, and the protest may cause more harm and good to the economy and security; as security reports have indicated that the protest will be hijacked by unscrupulous elements.
“It is against this background, that I have joined other Patriotic Nigerians to appeal to prospective protesters to call off the proposed protest and engage governments at all levels to find lasting solutions to the country’s problems.
“You must agree with me that after every protest it is the dialogue that follows that yield 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,” he stated.
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