Few days after the protest against harsh economic conditions in the country by the United Action for Democracy (UAD), another group of civil society organizations stormed the streets of Lagos on Thursday to rally round President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration.
Tagged, “A One Million Man Rally for President Muhammadu Buhari by Stand Up for Nigeria (SUN), a Coalition of Civil Society Organizations”, the group comprising youths and students marched from the Toll Gate to Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota in Lagos.
The procession caused huge traffic congestion on the axis as the protesters marched peacefully chanting pro – Buhari slogans and endorsing Buhari’s policies which they say, “are healing Nigeria’s past wounds”.
They carried placards with inscriptions such: “Buhari is here to restore Nigeria’s economy; The looters of yesterday are regrouping to stampede our nation’s progress”, among others.
South-West Coordinator of SUN, Comrade John Blessing said though the current recession, inflation and the poor economy is a reality, they were precipitated by the looting of treasury by previous administrations.
He said, “The economic recession is real. The fall in the value of the naira is real. Inflation that has taken away the purchasing power of Nigerians is real. But these are not the only real things we know in this country.
“The looting of public treasury by previous administrations is real. The neglect of critical infrastructures by previous leaders is real. The failure to diversify the economy from being dependent on crude oil is real.
“There are more things that are real as well. The sabotage of oil and gas installations by sponsored militants is real. Economic sabotage to frustrate the intervention of the current government is real. The fight back by corruption against the anti-graft war is real. Scheming to block Nigerians from enjoying the gains of reforms being implemented by this government is real. Political Boko Haramists sponsoring terrorism is real”.
He took a swipe on the UAD protesters, saying they failed to consider the various realities on ground before accusing President Buhari of inflicting hardship on Nigerians.
John said Buhari had impacted on Nigerians through the recently launched Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) which has started paying N5000 to poor households.
“His government has not left out the unemployed youth who are now getting monthly stipends of N30,000 while they have matched with work places where they will acquire skills and experiences for future jobs. 200,000 youths are part of the first batch while more is to follow”, he said.
The Coordinator added that the President had equally recorded unexpected feat in the fight against terrorism with the dislodgement of Boko Haram terrorists.