President Tinubu must address subsidy removal, floating of naira to reduce hardship – SAN

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By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Ben Uzuegbu, has said that the only way out of the current hardship that triggered #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria few weeks ago is for President Bola Tinubu to address “the subsidy has gone theory” and the floating of naira.

Chief Uzuegbu who is also the Deputy Chancellor, Diocese on the Niger, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, said the president must just find a way to bring down the price of fuel and address the floating of naira which has grossly devalued our currencny if he doesn’t want another protest in the nearest future .

The Senior Advocate lamented the efforts the Federal Government made to frustrate the protest without taking into cognisance the fact that the Constitution in which they were elected to protect and uphold, provided for freedom of assembly and movement.

He also disagreed with Court judgments which confined the protesters to a particular place during the protest, saying that Section 35 of the Constitution that provided for freedom of Assembly anf Movement did not provide for the limit of the area with which to engage in a pottest.

The lawyer said such judgements should be challenged, although it has to be first obeyed, saying that protesters have however made loud and clear statement over the hardship in the country.

Stressing the need for Government to loosen the biting economic polices, the lawyer said while Nigerians tighten their belts, they can’t tighten their belts beyond what their waist could carry.

He also called for implementation of policies to cushion the effect of the subsidy removal, lamenting that President Tinubu has not implemented a single programne he initiated to cushion the effect of subsidy withdrawal but has unfortunately engaged in ostentatious lifestyle and purchase Presidential jet and Cadilliac while the citizens cannot see food on their table.

The Senior Advocate said no responsible nation allows its currency to be floated in such a manner Nigeria’s has been floated.

“Why allow free fall of naira to the extent that a tuber of yam is now N5, 000. Something drastic must be done so that the situation would not be too harsh to the common man” he said.