- Remain calm until all peaceful means are exhausted, Elliott Afiyo appeals to northern youths
By Billy Graham Abel, Yola
The national president of the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), Elliott Afiyo, has slammed the Tinubu-led government for hatching a secret plot increase fuel pump price and remove the subsidy on electricity thereby increasing the hardship Nigerians are already grappling.
Elliott said, Nigerians are already hungry and impoverished by the deteriorating economy and heightened security situation under the Tinubu-led government and this action might force Nigerians to soon take their destinies into their hands and any action might be possible.
This is contained in a press statement issued by Elliott Afiyo and made available to Daily Sun, Tuesday.
According to Elliott, the present government has displayed lack of capacity to manage the country’s security situation and that Nigerians are now at the mercy of Boko Haram insurgents, bandits and kidnappers who now attack Nigerians as they so wish.
Comrade Elliott Afiyo said, “It is with great dismay and excruciating pains that I address you today on the security challenges and the severe hardship being faced by Nigerians especially the Northerners.
“We observed with astonishment the deliberate decision to secretly increase the pump prices of petroleum products two weeks ago, and the proposed removal of subsidy on electricity.
“We seriously viewed these decisions as barbaric, callous and insensitive. We therefore demand for the reversal of these decisions within three days effective from Tuesday the 20th of February, 2024.”
Speaking on the security situation in the country, Elliott said, “It is an evident truth that since the inception of this democratic dispensation in 1999, Nigeria especially the Northern part has been engaged in one form of security challenge or the other. Facts must not be ignored that Boko Haram Terrorists, Bandits and Kidnappers have escalated their nefarious acts to an unbearable level since the President Buhari administration.
“With the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigerians especially the Northerners, were looking forward with great expectations that the security challenges will be tackled.
“We are highly disappointed that all these Terrorists, Bandits and Kidnappers have increased to an unexpected level, their criminal activities unchallenged. “
Afiyo laments that the criminal elements terrorizing Nigerians have become brazen and emboldened to perpetrate their criminal activities because of government’s lack of action at all levels which has caused tension across the country.
“These criminals are now carrying their nefarious acts at anytime they so wish even to the extent of boasting that their sponsors are now in charge of security in Nigeria.
“We observed with dismay the scenario whereby the bandits were apprehended by the vigilante and the security officers came to release them.
“In lieu of this thereof, we call on the Federal Government to take decisive actions against these criminals and their collaborators in the security agencies, else we will take up our destinies in our hands and any action is in inevitable,” Elliott warns.
Decrying the hunger crisis in the country, he said, “It is absolutely necessary to draw the attention of the Government on the escalating prices of basic necessities of life in the nation. Basic foodstuff like corn, rice, beans, yams and millet are no longer affordable by common man.
“The prices keep on increasing daily. The level of poverty keep multiplying to the level that people have resolved to selling their children to cater for their families.”
Elliott cautions northern leaders on the using of exotic vehicles, he said, “From the intelligence reports being received from our State and Local Government Coordinators, we would like to advice that all Northerners that are using exotic and flashy cars and also those that are using sirens, should discontinue using such cars forthwith until the severe hardship is minimized or curtailed, failure to adhere to this advice may lead to some unforeseen consequences. A word is enough for the wise.”
The northern Youth leader appeal to the Northern Youths to remain calm until all avenues for negotiation and actions of government are exhausted, saying,
“Definitely we have been pushed to the wall but violent reactions can only worsen the situation.”
Elliott appealed to all wealthy Northerners to assist and initiate palliative measures in their connunities to avert negative reactions.