National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Chuks Peter, DELTA
High Chief (Dr.) Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, widely known as Tompolo, the chairman of Tantita Security Services Ltd, has urged the leaders and advocates of the planned hardship protest, set to commence on August 1, 2024, to reconsider their stance.
In a statement signed by Tompolo, the Ibe-Ebidouwei of the Ijaw Nation, he called on the organisers of the planned nationwide protest to join hands with the Federal Government to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges.
Tompolo acknowledged the prevailing hunger and hardship in the country but appealed to the protesters, emphasising that protests are not the solution.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its efforts to revive the economy with well-thought-out policies and programmes addressing both economic and security issues.
According to him, “Nigeria is blessed with resources, both natural and human, and we are capable of finding our way to the promised land where our clinics deliver healthcare, our children are in school, and our infrastructure and utilities actually work.
“But it cannot happen in a day. The most important question in nation-building is not ‘are we there now,’ but ‘are we pushing in the right direction?'”
Tompolo expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu’s administration would lead the nation towards national reformation due to the courageous decisions taken from the first day in office.
He added that Nigerians need to be patient for the President to transform the country.
The statement highlighted the significant improvements in the oil and gas sector, the mainstay of the economy, over the past year.
While noting that citizens have the right to question government policies and programmes if they are unsatisfied, Tompolo argued that protests are not the best way to express dissatisfaction.
He warned that protests could be hijacked by unscrupulous elements, disrupting the progress made so far.
“The organisers of this proposed hardship protest must know that the timing is wrong, and the protest may cause more harm than good to the economy and security.
“Security reports indicate that the protest will be hijacked by unscrupulous elements. Protests have also been known to halt progress when ill-timed.
“When things are beginning to be done right, what is often needed is patience,” the statement read.
Tompolo joined other patriotic Nigerians in appealing to prospective protesters to call off the proposed protest and engage with governments at all levels to find lasting solutions to the country’s problems.
