By Sule Aliyu Bauçhi
The Amalgamate Union of Traders and Artisans Association, Bauchi State Chapter, has disassociated itself and members from the planned protest slated to commence August 1, 2024.
The State Chairman of the Association Alhaji Abdullahi Y Muhammàd popularly known as Abdullah Caps made this known at a press briefing in Bauchi
Krestnews reports that the ongoing plan by some aggrieved Nigerians to begin a 10-day nationwide hunger and hardship protest to draw the federal and state governments’ attention to the worsening plight of the citizens slated for August 1 to August 10, 2024.
The Chairman said while it is a constitutional right of citizens to peacefully protest to air their grievances over issues they feel are not going well in the country, such moves must have a clear-cut design to achieve the desired results.
He announced: “We categorically and unequivocally distance ourselves and the entire traders community in Bauchi State from the planned protest.
“We traders and artisans are not in support of the planned protest. Let the government and organizers of the protest sit on a table and chart the way forward against the orchestrated act.”
He suggested that the only remedy for the planned national protest orchestrated by harsh economic policies of the Tinubu admonition is to effect some subsidy to the fuel pump price to allow for easy flow of goods and services.
“No sooner had President Tinubu retained the fuel pump subsidy to a certain level, prices of goods and services would automatically go down thus giving respite or succour to the poor in getting basic necessities of life,” the association said.
He applauded the achievements of the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad in the areas of infrastructural development, security, agriculture, health, education especially numerous assistance to traders among others.
He expressed deep satisfaction with Governor Bala’s administration’s policy trajectory and lauded the equitable and inclusive execution of projects across the 20 LGAs of the state.
He said that there is alleged plan by hoodlums to use the opportunity of the protest to loot and destroy property of Nigerians hence the need to be cautious of the anticipated consequences and the need to forestall it accordingly.
Abdallah said it is a fact that there is hardship and hunger in the country “but we prefer dialogue with the authorities to resolve the matter.”
The Chairman advised the state and federal governments to do whatever possible to stop the nationwide planned protest.