By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Few hours into the commencement of the planned August 1st Nationwide protest, a group under the umbrella of Northern Agenda for Good Governance & Allied Groups has pulled out of the protest in Bauchi state, with a call on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct for the return to oil exploration activities at Kolmani, in Bauchi and Gombe states.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Centre of the NUJ Bauchi on Thursday, the Deputy National Coordinator of the organization, Comrade Hashim Bala Pali also informed that his organization is firmly in support of the call for a return to subsidy regime in Nigeria.

The group observed that the root cause of the hunger, starvation and other difficulties faced by the masses is the removal of subsidy in PMS as announced by the President in his inaugural address, adding that, since then, life has become meaningless to majority of Nigerian citizens.

The coordinator who stated that his organization while joining the popular call by compatriots for return of subsidy regime with immediate effect, decided to call off the protest in the greater interest of peace and stability of Bauchi State and Nigeria.

Comrade Pali added that the group realized that it is better to send the message through press conference than to allow some unknown and perhaps irresponsible elements to hijack and turn the planned peaceful Protest into something else.

Comrade Pali who challenged Nigerian leaders to understand that the survival of Nigerians is better than policy cosmetics and window dressing that is not achieving any result, further observed that it was insensitive for the Nigerian government to hike electricity tariff at a time most Nigerians were struggling to have a square meal per day.

While dismissing the policy as one without human face and not in the best interest of the country, the group said other alternatives of providing electricity at affordable prices be explored rather than hiking the tariff.

The Coordinator also stated that the students loan fund introduced to cushion the effect of hike in fees by students in tertiary institutions of learning across the country will not address the problems of access to quality education to the average Nigerian in both short and the long run.

Comrade Pali suggested that economic policies that improve the purchasing capacity of the average citizens should be initiated and value should be added to Nigerian currency to make it possible for most citizens to afford tertiary education without hitch.

Comrade Pali described the oil activities in Kolmani as very important project of significant socio-economic and developmental interest to not only the North East but the entire country, also called for the reopening of all the country’s borders to curtail the rising rate of inflation.

The Coordinator who further decried that the leaders are taking the people for granted by interfacing with the citizens only during national emergencies such as the Nationwide protest, said despite the impending danger the protest poses to National security, none of the Ministers in President Tinubu’s cabinet and other appointees have returned home to discuss the issues and the way forward with the people at their various constituencies.

While calling on the Leaders to always ensure regular touch with the people for trust, accountability and development sake, Comrade Pali enjoined protesters to return home, resume their normal legitimate activities and continue to cooperate with his group in lawful ways until the issues are addressed.