Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, former governor of Kano State and National Leader of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has called on Nigerians, especially the youth, to leverage the power of the ballot box to address the current economic hardship in the country.
Amidst planned nationwide protests against hunger and hardship, Kwankwaso urged patience and support for the Bola Tinubu administration.
In a statement on his official X handle on Saturday, he acknowledged the frustrations driving the calls for protest but emphasized the importance of giving the government time to succeed.
“Today, I speak to you not just as an elder and a concerned citizen but as someone who deeply believes in the power and potential of our great nation.
The recent calls for protests against bad governance resonate with me, as they reflect our collective frustration and yearning for a better Nigeria,” Kwankwaso stated.
He continued, “However, I urge Nigerians to put our country first before any other consideration by being patient with the government and giving it all necessary support to succeed.
If any government fails to provide the necessary leadership for a better Nigeria, we will have the opportunity as citizens to elect the people who can bring the required change using our votes.”
Kwankwaso highlighted the dire consequences of national protests, drawing from past experiences where protests escalated into violence, leading to loss of lives, property destruction, and widespread chaos.
“Protests, while a fundamental democratic right, often come with unforeseen and dire consequences.
The tragic events of the past have shown us that protests can escalate into violence, leading to loss of lives, destruction of property, and widespread chaos,” he warned.
He senator attributed the current economic crisis to leadership failures since 2007, stating that the hardship and hunger spreading across the country were avoidable.
“We found ourselves in avoidable hardship because our leaders missed some steps since 2007.
However, there is always room for correction and setting the country on the right track for economic development, prosperity, and better welfare of citizens,” he said.
Kwankwaso emphasized the need for good governance, respect for the rule of law, transparency, and accountability as pathways to alleviate the country’s challenges.
“It is sad to note that the attitude of our leaders to poor governance plunged the citizens, especially youth, into anger, hunger, insecurity, hopelessness, and giving up on the country,” he remarked.