The nationwide protest #EndBadGovernance, also tagged “Hunger Protest”, which began 10 days ago and was slated to end on Saturday with a one million man march across the Nigerian States, took a rather positive end with a town hall meeting in Plateau State.
The Governor, Caleb Mutfwang who strategically pushed a brilliant move, chose to dialogue with the Plateau youths at the Government House in Jos.
Our correspondent reports that the protest which started August 1, 2024, was peaceful in the State for about three days until hoodlums hijacked it, leading to the imposition of curfew to forestall law and order.
Consequently, the grand finale of the protest which was supposed to end with a mother of all protest, was welcomed with a comrade alliance from the State Governor who told the youths that if he was not in government, he would have been protesting alongside them.
Mutfwang acknowledged the hardship faced in the country, but also enlightened the youths of government efforts in mitigating them.
The Governor stated this after the leaders of the youths presented their demands to him on Saturday.
According to him: “I am committed to making Plateau and Nigeria a better place. I acknowledge your frustration, but I also want you to know that my administration inherited a challenge which we are working with the mantra “The Time Is Now to Turn Around the Situation”.
Appreciating the youths for agreeing to come for the town hall meeting, Mutfwang added that he has been a part of the struggle to make life better for Nigerians.
“I am one of you. I am here by the grace of God but I don’t forget my humble beginning.
“I feel your pain when I know that somebody who is willing to work hard but is frustrated by electricity and can’t make a profit out of his business. I am equally frustrated.
“When I was elected, the fact was not lost on me that we came in at a very difficult time.
“2015 to 2023 were the years when Nigeria and Nigerians were stripped of the dignity of humanity, the locusts ate our wealth, I agree with you that we must change the story of our nation.
“We started below ground zero and we are inching our way to the point to lay a new foundation for the Plateau of our dream.
“I thank you for the way you conducted yourselves during the protest. Protest is a right, but you have a responsibility to ensure the protest does not degenerate to a point where it is hijacked by the enemy of Plateau”, Mutfwang said.
Responding to some of the demands on the State, the Governor added that: “We have instructed that all demolitions be halted, and we are looking for spaces to develop community markets within the State.
“We won’t do anything to push citizens into penniless but no society develops with lawlessness”, he said.
Earlier, the coalition of the EndBadGovernance while making their demands said: “This is the 10th day. We are here so you listen to us. When leaders hear the citizens, we will build a nation.
“Hunger is not a youth problem but a national problem. We want to see the government respond to the demands; this should not be a political gathering.”
“We are Nigerians and the aim of this protest is to end hunger and hardship”.
The youth leaders made it clear to the Governor that the protest is not against his government as they can see the progress made so far in the State to beautify it and also to halt the incessant killings that engulfed Plateau for the past two decades.
