By Priscilla Dennis Former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has expressed concerns over the country’s ec...
By Priscilla Dennis
Former Nigerian Military Head of State, General Abdulsalami
Abubakar, has expressed concerns over the country’s economic hardship, stating
that it is “getting out of control.”
Abubakar stated this while receiving the leadership of the
Campaign for Democracy and Human Rights, led by Abdullahi Mohammed Jabi, who
visited his uphill residence in Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday.
He noted that many Nigerians struggle to afford basic needs
like food and transportation.
“Everybody is crying about this hardship and it seems to be
getting out of control, people cannot afford three square meals.
“The issue of transportation, the hike in fuel, the hike in
school fees for the children and the lack of funds in everybody’s pocket is
making life difficult for everybody,” the elder statesman observed.
Gen. Abubakar disclosed that he belongs to a forum that had
passed three recommendations to the federal government on the way out of the
economic hardship, as giving out palliatives is not the solution to hikes in
food and other commodities across the nation.
He suggested the government should provide affordable food
options by buying and selling essential items at lower prices.
According to him: “There is a need for government to flood
and saturate the communities with food, let them (government) buy food and sell
it at lesser prices to the people so that people will try to buy some of these
food items depending on their pockets and income.”
Abubakar also urged peaceful protests ahead of the planned
#EndBadGovernance demonstration on October 1, recalling the violence and
looting that marred previous protests.
He lamented: “During the last protest, we saw unnecessary,
uncalled for carnage, theft and criminalities; instead of protesting, the
people went about looting even private houses; private individuals suffered in
the hands of the demonstrators.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Abdullahi Jabi, told
the elder statesman that they were in his residence to rejoice with him on the
celebration of his birthday, and prayed for long life and good health for him.
He also urged Gen. Abubakar to help prevail on the federal
government to solve the problem of hardship and hunger in the land while
soliciting his assistance for the implementation of some of its programmes.
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