President of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Comrade Dr. Prince Kehinde Taiga, has called for urgent action against bad governance, hardship and corrupt leadership in Nigeria.
The called was contained in a statement and circulated to the press during the #endbadgovernance protest which he joined in Warri, the industrial hub of Delta state.
He condemned the hunger and untold hardship which the federal government has plunged the people of Nigeria into since the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
THE PRESS STATEMENT IS HEREBY REPRODUCED HEREUNDER
BEING PRESS STATEMENT BY COMRADE DR. PRINCE KEHINDE TAIGA, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, NATIONAL PRESIDENT COMMITTEE FOR THE DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHT CDHR, ON THURSDAY 1ST OF AUGUST, 2024 AT WARRI, DELTA STATE
CALL FOR URGENT ACTION AGAINST BAD GOVERNANCE AND HARDSHIP IN NIGERIA
Fellow Nigerians, Members of the Press, and Concerned Citizens,
We stand before you today as concerned citizens, compelled by the dire circumstances we face as a nation, to address the ongoing protests against bad governance and the severe hardship that has gripped our beloved country. Our voices echo across the nation, demanding justice, accountability, and a better future for every Nigerian. We are here because we can no longer ignore the rampant bad governance, pervasive hardship, and the systemic failures that have plagued our nation for far too long.
It is with a heavy heart that we witness the escalating cost of living, which has plunged millions into poverty and despair. The government’s failure to address these critical issues with the urgency they demand is unacceptable. We call on our leaders to immediately take practical and time bound steps to alleviate the economic burdens that have become unbearable for ordinary citizens. The prices of basic necessities have skyrocketed, making it impossible for families to make ends meet. This must be addressed now.
Furthermore, the integrity of our electoral process remains in question. We demand comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. Our democracy can only thrive if the will of the people is genuinely reflected in the outcomes of our elections, and that is whi we are demanding the immediate amendment of the electoral act 2023 as amended to mandate our electoral umpire INEC to only use electronic powered iRev for the collation and immediate transmission of results to a secured server. And that any center, local government or state that their results in their server is tampered with, the REC involve should face justice.
Education is the backbone of any progressive society, yet our schools are grossly underfunded. We demand an increase in budgetary allocations for education to ensure that our children receive the quality education they deserve.
It is only through proper education that we can equip the next generation to build a better Nigeria, we therefore demand a stop to creation of new tertiary institutions (which many of the governors has turned to avenue to getting more funding from TETFUND that they can mismanaged and squander) while we strongly focus on the ones available. Our schools must be adequately funded, our teachers properly compensated, and our children equipped with scholarships and tools they need to succeed in a competitive world.
The cost of governance in Nigeria is exorbitant, and we demand immediate action to cut down on these unnecessary expenses (by making every political office holder’s salary structure to be inline with the civil service act, remove the 7447 projects worth about #2.24 trillion inserted by the national assembly in the 2024 budgetary allocation, scrap hardship, housing and newspaper allowances from the salary composition of every political office holders). It is time that our leaders lead by example, and redirect funds to areas that will directly benefit the people (building of well equipped government hospitals, construction of all federal and state roads, increment of power generation among many others).
The implementation of the Oronsaye Report, which recommends the restructuring of federal agencies for greater efficiency, is long overdue. This report must be implemented without further delay, as the waste and duplication in government must end, and the savings directed to more productive sectors.
Insecurity continues to ravage our nation, ranging from Kidnappings to insurgency and activities of unknown gunmen with countless lives lost and communities destroyed.
The government must take decisive action to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians by prioritizing the safety of its citizens and ensure that security agencies are adequately equipped and motivated (not only when they are preparing them for protest alone) to protect lives and property (our farmers and farmland must be protected).
In addition, our infrastructure is in a state of disrepair. We demand the urgent fixing of our refineries and seaports to boost our economy and reduce our dependency on imports.
Accountability in governance is not optional; it is a necessity. We demand transparency at all levels of government, particularly in the disbursement and utilization of the FAAC allocations to states. The people have the right to know how their resources are being managed.
Unemployment continues to rise, leaving millions of young people without hope. We call on the government to show practical and timely ways to create jobs and reduce the staggering unemployment rate. It is time for our leaders to prioritize the well-being of the youth, who are the future of this nation.
We also call on the Nigerian government to obey the ECOWAS Court’s judgment on #EndSARS and to release all protesters who have been unjustly detained in various correctional centers across the country. Justice must be served, and the rights of these individuals must be upheld.
We also call on the Nigerian government to obey the ECOWAS Court’s judgment on #EndSARS and to release all protesters who have been unjustly detained in various correctional centers across the country. Justice must be served, and the rights of these individuals must be upheld.
We also call on the government to immediately do whatever they can to reduce the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol so that the many burdens on the people will be reduced drastically.
We are tired of stories from the leadership of NNPCL in constant defense of their complacency and poor handling of the oil sector which many at times has made Nigerians to keep experiencing fuel scarcity every year, if they can’t give us result they should resign immediately. There must be immediate reduction in the prices of electricity and other basic needs of the people.
Finally, it is very important to also inform all political office holders that staying in power is not a do or die affairs. If you can’t deliver on your campaign promises to the people within your eighteen months in office, you shouldn’t at all cost hold on to power but rather tender your resignation for another to lead.
This government must show that they are responsible and intentional by carrying our performance index check on all political office holders and make them accountable for their failures and obvious errors, we cannot continue to shield erring persons because of our padi padi lifestyle. It is time to stop feeding on the system of government for the corrupt, by the corrupt and for the corrupt.
In conclusion, we, the people of Nigeria, are demanding urgent and decisive action. The time for excuses is over. We will no longer stand by while our nation is plundered, and our people suffer. The APC government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must rise to the occasion and address these critical issues with the seriousness and urgency they deserve.
We remain committed to our cause and will continue to raise our voices until the government heeds our calls and takes meaningful action to address the needs of the people, and we will continue to PUSH until Nigeria becomes a nation where justice, equality, and prosperity are the norm for all.
Thank you.
