A Niger Delta-based human rights and development advocate, Mulade Sheriff, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent and pragmatic steps to address rising hunger, hardship, and insecurity across Nigeria.

Mulade, in a statement issued yesterday in Warri, Delta State, expressed concern over what he described as increasing deaths linked to economic hardship, warning that Nigerians are “dying silently and publicly” due to worsening living conditions.

He also criticised political office holders for focusing on re-election ambitions rather than addressing pressing socio-economic challenges affecting citizens nationwide.

“We must rise above the challenges and stop the avoidable deaths of Nigerians on daily basis because of leadership failure towards citizens welfare and protection,” he said.

Mulade, a United Nations peace ambassador, noted that relative calm in the Niger Delta region is largely due to youth engagement through pipeline surveillance contracts.

According to him, “It is imperative to state that the current saving grace in the Niger Delta particularly the oil and gas sector is because of the current pipeline surveillance contracts awarded to Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, the Pipeline Infrastructure Limited, which have helped to engage majority of the youths and create some level of economic stability in the region. “If not, the security situation in the region would have been worse off than in the North East, West and Central, which may have thrown Nigeria into serious economic meltdown.”

The Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient oil-rich Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State called on the federal government to sustain the surveillance contracts, warning that discontinuing them could worsen security and economic instability, especially ahead of the 2027 general election.

He further stressed the need for government to prioritise the protection of lives and property, describing it as its primary responsibility.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not abandoned the protection of its citizens and concentrate on re-election bid.

“It is worthy of note that Nigerians are losing trust and confidence in our government at all levels because it seems political office holders are more concerned with the syndrome of holding unto power instead of creating economic stability, citizens welfare, development and protection.

“President Tinubu must act now to save Nigerians and our dire nation from collapsing. We must work to be truly the economic giant of Africa, not just in population and landmass,” he added.

Hardship: CRPP Calls on Edo Gov to Resign

Felix Omoh-Asun in Benin

The Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) has observed with concern the increasing hardship the masses are currently facing in Edo State.

The coalition described the situation as unparalleled in the history of the state.

CRPP therefore, called for the resignation of the state Governor, Monday Okpebholo, over his inability to tackle the worsening living condition of the people.

According to the National Chairman of CRPP, Dr. Samson Isibor, in a statement issued yesterday while responding to the peaceful protest in Benin City, the state capital, by youths and other residents, the situation has become intolerable.

Recall that protesters numbering hundreds last Wednesday staged a protest against several issues ranging from hike in petrol, epileptic power supply, poor states of road, high cost of food items, among others.

They demanded an urgent government intervention to address rising food prices, unemployment, and the high cost of living in the country

Isibor expressed concern over the increasing hardship the masses are passing through in Edo State.

“We have noted with grave concern that wherever you turn to in Edo State, it is lamentation. The heat of poverty is staring us in the face; we have never had it this bad in Edo State. That was what led to the massive protest by youths and other citizens in Benin City on Wednesday.

“Edo is at a standstill as if there is no government in the state. Insecurity is at its worst state ever, kidnapping is unabated, unemployment is high, cost of house rent is beyond the reach of the citizens, there is no visible infrastructural development, bad and unmotorable roads everywhere, no functional health centres, and entrepreneurs are moving out of the state because of high cost of running their businesses.

“CRPP supports the Wednesday’s peaceful protest by the citizens to call the attention of the state and federal governments to the deplorable conditions in the state in particular and the country in general,” he stated.

Commenting on the state government’s alleged helplessness in tackling the poor living condition of its citizens, Isibor called on Governor, Okpebholo to either sit up to its responsibility or resign.

He said: “CRPP condemns the lackadaisical and nonchalant attitude of Governor Okpebholo. Sadly, there is no visible effort from his government to ameliorate the suffering of our people.

“We, therefore, call on Okpebholo to either wake up to his responsibilities or resign, because it is obvious that he is bereft of ideas to solve the alarming poverty confronting the Edo people. Rather, he is only concerned with how to win the 2027 presidential for his master and the so-called local government election in which we already know the outcome.” (This Day)

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