Fmr. President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Federal Government was on Friday asked to listen to the demands of citizens protesting against the country’s economic crisis. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo gave this charge when he in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, hosted some National Assembly members
Nigerian youths, on August 1, in many States, kicked off the #EndBadGovernance protest to demand an end to economic hardship, insecurity, and other challenges facing the country.
The former president said the youths took to the streets because the government failed to attend to their concerns.
Said Obasanjo: “You are what you are today because you’re a Nigerian. I am what I am also because I am Nigerian. So why should they be Nigerians and be languishing in poverty?
“Like I have warned earlier, we should know that we are all sitting on a keg of gunpowder if we fail to begin to do the right thing.
“For instance, what the youth are demanding is very legitimate and should be listened to, or why should they be denied what rightfully belongs to them?
“They make demands, and we are not listening to them. Many of them are frustrated, desperate, angry, and unemployed.
“What do we expect? They deserve to be given listening ears”.
He said fixing term limits for public office holders was not the issue, noting that the mentality of the representatives in the government should change.
Noted he: “The issue is not whether Nigeria should adopt a single six-year term or maintain the status quo.
“If the mentality of the people in governance does not change, then Nigeria will remain where it is.
“For me, the issue is for us to get it right. Whether we have one term of six years or two terms of four years, where it’ll work is our mentality”.
The House of Representatives members co-sponsored bills seeking a single six-year term for the president and governors, power rotation between the northern and southern parts of the country, and a single day for presidential, governorship, national assembly, and state assembly elections.
They were led by Ugochinyere Ikenga, representing the Ideato North and South Constituency of Imo State.
