The founder of the Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry, Prophet Godwin Ikuru, has called on Nigerian youths to reconsider participating in the upcoming protests, scheduled to take place on August 1, 2024, highlighting the potential negative impact on the nation’s most vulnerable citizens, many of whom he said depended on daily earnings to survive.
Ikuru made the call at a press conference held at his Lagos residence on Saturday, pointing out that disruptions from protests scheduled to last for about 10 days as planned by its promoters could worsen their situation.
Ikuru warned that protests, if not properly focused, could damage the economy, drawing parallels with the situation in Kenya, where he claimed past protests had adverse effects.
He suggested that any protests to be held should concentrate specifically on the high cost of food and essential commodities rather than broader political grievances.
Ikuru, while expressing concern about potential hidden agendas behind the planned protests, which he noted could be aimed at discrediting the current administration, urged parents and guardians to advise their children against participating in the exercise.
He, however, called for patience, assuring that “the government is actively seeking solutions to the rising cost of living in the country.”
On the high cost of food items, it was noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is not directly involved in food production and the price hike, but said it can still play a crucial role in regulating food prices in markets, supermarkets, and local stores.
According to him, notwithstanding the government’s efforts to support farmers by supplying grains and other essentials, “more needs to be done to control prices and ease the burden on ordinary Nigerians.”
He, therefore, proposed the establishment of a Ministry of Price Control to regulate the sale of goods and ensure that prices reflect humanitarian considerations, saying this step would go a long way in addressing these economic challenges currently facing the country.
Besides, the cleric urged sellers to consider the well-being of their fellow citizens in their pricing decisions, advocating for a more compassionate and regulated market system to bring meaningful change to Nigeria’s economic landscape.
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