By Amos Aar, with Agency reports
RESIDENTS of the states of Abia, Benue and Imo on Thursday shunned the nationwide hunger and hardship protest as offices were opened and commercial activities went on smoothly.
In Benue State, government offices were opened and people went about with their normal activities in compliance with Governor Hyacinth Alia’s appeal for non-participation in the nationwide protest which commenced as scheduled for August 1, 2024.
Governor Alia had on two occasions appealed against the protest, citing security reasons and pointing out that all the projects he has been executing in the state are with the president Tinubu’s support hence the action was unnecessary.
Following the appeal, leaders of various unions and groups prevailed on their members to comply, warning that anyone caught will be treated as a criminal.
Our correspondent observed on Wednesday evening that security operatives were stationed in strategic areas to tackle any breach of security and order.
A civil servant at the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), who did not want his name mentioned, told our correspondent when he was out to monitor the situation that workers decided to cooperate with Governor Alia because he revived their lives with the prompt payment of salaries and has remain up to date with the exception of arrears of salaries and pension, and other retirement benefits owed from previous administrations.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that residents of Makurdi township, its suburbs and other communities, ignored the protest and were seen going about their normal lawful businesses.
NAN further reports that all motor parks and markets visited in Makurdi, were opened and transactions were happening steadily.
Mr Aondozungwe Pila, a motorcyclist, explained that the residents decided against the protest after yielding to the pleas of Governor Alia.
Pila said that their decision against the protest was, however, not because the protest did not make meaning. “The protest is appropriate. It is staged at the right time. We have suffered for too long. The government needs to liberate us. Government should do things that will bring the socioeconomic life of Nigerians back,” he said.
Similarly, a lecturer at the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the general hardship had become unbearable. He claimed that Nigerians were no longer happy people, noting that before now, there was a saying that Nigerians do smile even when they were faced with severe hardship, but Nigerians were no longer smiling at the moment.
“This means that this suffering at this material time is beyond what many Nigerians can bear. The hardship is hitting Nigerians very hard. Most Nigerians find it difficult to feed even once a day. This is sad and unacceptable.
“The major cause of the hardship is the total removal of the fuel subsidy. Fuel is the main determinant of our economy. To reduce the hardship, the Federal Government should start subsidising fuel and life will bounce back to normal.
“Also, the federal government should put price control mechanisms in place to check the arbitrary increase in prices of items. Business people, both wholesalers and retailers, have taken advantage of our vulnerable economy to increase the prices of their items arbitrarily. This should be checked with a view to curtailing it,” he said.
Umuahia, Owerri shun protest too
Meanwhile,residents of Umuahia and Owerri, the capital cities of Abia and Imo states respectively, shunned the nationwide hunger protest and went about their lawful daily activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents, who monitored the situation, report that there was palpable quiet and serene atmosphere in the two cities.
In Umuahia, commercial banks, eateries, business premises and government offices were however under lock and key.
At the time of filing the report, major roads were empty of vehicles, while the motor parks and small market at the popular Isi-gate were devoid of the usual beehive of human and vehicular activities.
There were only a handful of commercial tricycles, otherwise called Keke NAPEP, seen providing skeletal services.
At a private motor park on Umuwaya Road, some prospective travellers were seen stranded being unable to make their trips.
A woman, who identified herself simply as Mary, said: “I wanted to travel to Enugu this morning, but I got here and saw the park locked. As I speak, no motor park is operating but this journey is very important to me.”
On ground to maintain the peace and avert possible breakdown of law and order were armed security personnel, who were deployed to strategic positions in different parts of the state.
In Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, major markets, such as the Ariaria International Market, Shopping Complex and Cemetery Market were shut.
At some foodstuff markets in the city, such as Ahia Nkwo, Afo Une, and Tonimas Markets in Abayi and Umuode, few petty traders were seen displaying their goods.
The roads were scanty of vehicular and human traffic, while military and police patrol vans moved around the town and its environs keeping surveillance.
Some prospective inter-state travellers, who were stranded at the motor parks, were seen returning to their places as the parks were empty of vehicles.
Banks closed, while the ATMs could only transfer funds but could not dispense cash.
Some residents, who complained about the situation in the country, appealed to the political leaders to “stop taking the citizens for granted” and address the problem of widespread poverty and hunger.
Also, in Imo, the state capital, Owerri, and its environs, were calm and cold with the early morning rain that kept residents indoors.
The police and other security agencies deployed their operatives to strategic locations in Owerri metropolis and entry points, while some were seen in patrol vans keeping surveillance in the area.
A resident, Mr Ignatius Igwe, told NAN that the rain and recent attacks by gunmen, which left four policemen and three civilians dead, might have helped to dampen people’s interest in taking part in a public protest.
A provision store operator on MCC/Uratta Road, Owerri, Mr Uchenna Mkwocha, told NAN that he shunned the hunger protest because he could not afford to close his only means of livelihood.
“It is true that things are hard and hunger has increased in the land, but I do not believe that protesting against the government will bring about the needed change.
“I prefer dialogue to protest and one is not sure that the action would not be hijacked by criminals to loot people’s shops or cause death of innocent souls,” Mkwocha said.
He urged the Federal Government to, among other things, bring down the price of fuel to N200, saying that the palliatives of grains would not solve the hunger in the country.
“Government should cut down on its spending and public offices, fight insecurity in the North, where food is produced in abundance, and open the border for food importation to end hunger in the land,” he said.
Commenting on the situation in the state, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Henry Okoye, said that the state was relatively calm.
Okoye said that police and other security agencies in the state collaborated to deploy their personnel for confidence building patrol and show of force.
He said: “Imo residents are going about their lawful businesses only that in certain locations, people are perhaps apprehensive to come out.
“Already, we had a stakeholders’ meeting with virtually all the groups in the state and a majority of them informed us that they will not be involved in the protest.
“So, I am not really surprised that we have not seen any group coming out to protest or embark on any peaceful demonstration.
“But, notwithstanding, our tactical team and operatives are gallantly ready and are out to protect any group that might come out to protest,” the PPRO further said. (NAN)
Akwanga Residents shun protest
Residents of Akwanga, a major town of Nasarawa State and headquarters of Akwanga LGA also refused to join the nationwide protest.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who went around to monitor the situation in Akwanga reports that residents were seen going about their normal business activities peacefully.
Security operatives including policemen were seen stationed at the Akwanga Roundabout, Akwanga-Keffi Road and Jos Road among others strategic locations in order to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
Some of the residents of the area told NAN that the protest was not necessary despite the current challenges being faced by Nigerians.
Mr Bulus John, a business man in Akwanga, said he refused to join the protest considering its negative effects on human and societal development.
He said that he chose to heed the advice of some highly respected stakeholders in the area not to join the protest.
“It is clear that it is not well in the country. People are suffering and there is hardship in the country. However, protest is not the solution. Dialogue is always the best option in order to make any meaningful headway,” he said, urging government at all levels to address the challenges facing the country.
Also, Isah Abdul, another resident, expressed gratitude to God that Akwanga remained peaceful despite protest in some parts of the country.
“The government knows and everybody is aware that there is hunger in the land but protest is not the answer. I want to call on the government to do the needful by rolling out different intervention programmes that will address the nation’s economic situation,” Abdul said.
Another business woman, Mrs Grace Thomas, lamented over the hardship being faced by Nigerians. “We are suffering; there is poverty in the country; must we protest before government can do the needful. I can’t join the protest. I want to call on government to tackle the hardship in the country in the interest of peace,” she said.
Thomas called on the Federal Government to revise its fuel subsidy removal policy in the interest of the masses.
Malam Shehu Audu, an elder statesman, urged the Federal Government to reduce the price of petrol and other commodities in the country.
“In my view, this hardship is as a result of fuel subsidy removal. Let the government reduce the price of petrol and other products in the country,” he said and called for dialogue not protest in addressing the present challenges facing the country. (NAN)
