The Abuja chapter of the Urhobo World United Union (UWUU), an umbrella body of Urhobo sons and daughters, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to make Nigerians happy again.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports UWUU made the call on Thursday in Abuja, the federal capital territory as the nation marks her 60th independence anniversary.
According to the group, the recent increase in the pump price of fuel and increase in electricity tariff have made Nigerians unhappy.
Speaking with TNG, Francis Oberuefe, the Assistant Coordinator of UWUU, Abuja chapter, said despite the chaos, despite the so many issues besetting the country, the nation is marching on strong.
“Politically, we are moving forward. The government is trying it’s best to make life easy for the citizenry even when all is not well in the country. Despite the chaos, despite the so many issues besetting the nation, we are still moving on.
“How do we move this country forward in real terms? That is exactly the question we should be asking as a people as we mark our independence. We must know that for us to move the country forward, there is a prize to pay.
“One thing I will advise President Buhari is that he should be proactive enough to move the nation forward. With the remaining years in his tenure, he should be able to leave legacies he would be remembered for.
“He should be active. One of the areas I want the President to be really active, is the aspect of security. People are dying almost on a daily basis. Losing just one life is just too many. He should rejig the security architecture of the country to ensure citizens do not live in fear.
“Another area the President should look at is the area of food security. President Buhari should revamp the agricultural sector to ensure food security. He should do more in the sector. He has promised us that he is moving this country forward so we expect more from him,” he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Pharm Samuel Adamatie, an active member of UWUU commended President Buhari and said Nigerians need to support the programmes of government for the betterment of everyone.
While pleading with the President to listen to the plight of the people and make life bearable rather than increase the burdens of the people, the pharmacist supported the deregulation agenda of the FG but stressed the timing is wrong.
“I am not known to be a pessimistic individual. I would not say there is nothing to celebrate about Nigeria. We are not there yet. We are actually growing. We are still growing, just like every other nations of the world.
“But the question is how well have we grown. Listening to the President’s speech this morning, inasmuch as I have reservations, in all, it was a nice speech. I listened to it all along.
“The country needs support. We need to support the government’s programmes for the betterment of everyone. Enough of the complaints. Let us begin to work to influence our immediate environment and the country as whole. We are not totally there but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“On the issue of deregulation, I totally support it but it should not be now. It should have been either before now or after this COVID-19 era. Not now. We all experienced the adverse effects of COVID-19. Other countries are providing palliatives to cushion the effects of COVID, we are deregulating. It should not be now. It should not be when we are still battling with COVID-19 and its after effects.
“On electricity, I totally disagree with the government when the government is yet to do the needful. I think the government is finding it difficult on what to do: whether to put the chicken before the hen or the hen before the chicken. This is not the time to increase anything in the name of boosting revenue generation.
“I plead with the President to listen to the plight of the people and make life bearable rather than increase the burdens of the people. He should also see to the security of lives and properties. Without security, the country will not move well. That is the major thing,” he said.
On his part, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the group, Noah Oghenebrorhien Akporehe noted that celebrating the 60th independence anniversary of Nigeria is a good thing, stressing that although there are lapses, that does not mean citizens should not celebrate.
He lamented the rate of unemployment and the hardship in the country, and pleaded with the federal government to bring down the price of fuel and reverse the increased electricity tariff.
He said: “There are certain things the government needs to put in place. This is why you will see that as we celebrate our independence, there is massive protests going on around the country.
“The rate of unemployment is high and in the midst of the COVID-19, the government still went ahead to increase the price of fuel and electricity tariff. It is not fair for the masses.
“Things are cost. People are crying. Things are not going on well with the people. The government should do a rethink on the decisions already taken. With that the people can be happy again.
“I want to plead with the federal government to bring down the price of fuel and reverse the increased electricity tariff. He should also give attention to the youths of the country. He should see to their welfare and provide jobs and make Nigerians happy again”.