Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the federal government should listen to the demands of citizens protesting against the country’s economic crisis.
Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun state, on Friday when he hosted some members of the National Assembly.
NewsClick Nigeria reports that on August 1, Nigerian youths in many states kicked off the #EndBadGovernance protest to demand an end to economic hardship, insecurity, and other challenges facing the country. The protests is expected to end on August 10 (tomorrow).
The former president said the youths took to the streets because the government failed to attend to their concerns.
“You are what you are today because you’re a Nigerian,” Obasanjo said.
“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 is not the issue, noting that the mentality of the representatives in the government should change.
“The issue is not whether Nigeria should adopt a single six-year term or maintain the status quo,” Obasanjo said.
“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.”
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