PROTEST: EMUH CALLS FOR RESTRAINT AMONG OIL PRODUCING COMMUNITIE
People of the Oil and Gas producing communities have been enjoined to desist from protest as a reaction to the prevailing economic situation in the country.
Executive National Chairman of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas and Pipeline Impacted States (HOSCON), Dr. Mike Emuh, who made the call at the weekend said the Federal Government is too young to be faced with such protest.
He, therefore, called for understanding and support to the government as it implements its economic policies.
In a statement in Abuja and made available to the press, Emuh noted that though there were issues in the economy, the Tinubu administration was tackling them with policies and programmes that will result in resuscitation of the national economy in the long run.
According to Emuh, the solutions to the revitalisation of the economy were the diversification from oil and gas to agriculture, huge investment and participation in agriculture by the private sector and effective tackling of insecurity across the country.
He stated:”We have noticed the tendency to join the protest over the situation in the economy and we hereby make the honest submission to our people in the oil and gas producing communities to desist from such protests.
” In as much as we realize the prevailing situation in the economy, we wish to note that the Tinubu administration is too young to be faced with such deluge of protests. It is not realistic because protest has never solved economic problems but proper policies, proper planning and programmes are the solutions. Thus we must not do anything that would exacerbate the situation.
He added:”Already the Federal Government is implementing some strategic policies and programmes which look realistic and would likely result in revitalisation of the national economy in the long run.
“So we need some patience. Diversification from oil and gas to agriculture with large scale private sector participation and tackling the insecurity in the country will help to address the situation. For this reason, we strongly urge our people to desist from the tendency to join the protest in the overall interest of the nation”.