Acting President Yemi Osinabjo on Tuesday said the government is open for engagement, advice, and criticism on how to improve the economy.
Osinbajo said the government is committed to continuously explaining its policies and remains open for advice and criticism. With the kind of focus the government was giving to improving the economy everyday, Osinbajo reiterates that the recession will soon be history, Osinbajo was speaking on the heels of the protests carried out in different cities across the country on Monday as Nigerians took to the street to protest the hardship in the country resulting from some of government’s policies.
He said the ministers had so far gone to 8 states holding town hall meetings where they explain government’s policies and will continue to other states.
A statement by Acting President’s spokesman, Laolu Akande said “We are committed to a continuous engagement with our people to explain government policies, receive advice and criticism. “Cabinet Ministers have gone round 8 States so far holding town hall meetings, the most recent was yesterday in Ilorin. There will be more of such meetings in the other States that are yet to be visited. “With complete focus on improving the economy every day, the recession will soon be history”.
The Acting President commended the Inspector General of Police and his officers for handling the protests with professionalism and respect for the rights of citizens.
One of Nigeria’s topmost musicians Innocent Idibia a.k.a 2face, was initially the convener of the protest which was to hold in major cities of the federation. However, 24 hours to the scheduled date, Idibia backed out of the protest citing security concerns.
In Abuja protesters at the unity fountain tower carried placards with different inscriptions reading “Nigeria is for Us”, “I stand for Nigeria”, “NEPA- PHCN- Disco- we pay for darkness in Nigeria”. among others.
Convener of the protest Chidi Odinkalu, had said the protest was borne out of love for the country as “we don’t like the way things are going in the country, the cost of everything is high and even the cost of dying in Nigeria is expensive.
“Nigeria is between the devil and the deep blue sea and the government do not seem to understand” Odinkalu said adding that this is a problem we must try and fix together as Nigerians, not with anyone trying to intimidate us by telling us we cannot do it. This is an act of defiance because the police told us that if we come out today they will shoot at Us, no country gives its policemen guns to shoot the citizens”.
Another protester had also decried the fact that the cost of living had become too high and Nigerians were tired of keeping quiet.
Yet another, had retorted that the masses voted for change and “if the government cannot give us change they should leave the seat, we need a new Nigeria.”
