Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has called on Nigerians to view the current economic hardship as a divine test, urging them to seek forgiveness and refrain from participating in the planned nationwide protest.
The governor, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made this statement on Monday during a town hall meeting with 27 groups in Dutse.
The meeting included representatives from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), all of whom distanced themselves from the protest scheduled for August 1.
Acknowledging the economic challenges facing the country, Governor Namadi emphasized that protests are not the solution.
He encouraged citizens to express their grievances through alternative means, such as prayer and seeking divine intervention.
Namadi stated, “There are many ways people could express their grievances; people are at liberty to display their grievances through protest under democratic dispensation, but that isn’t the most effective way to address the problems.
“The protest alone will not provide the solutions; people should turn to God, repent, seek for forgiveness and divine intervention on the challenges,” he added.
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The governor highlighted government efforts to alleviate the hardship, including distributing food items, materials, and cash, as well as the federal government’s approval of duty-free food imports for five months.
Namadi urged Nigerians to accept the hardships as a trial from God, citing the Islamic belief in destiny.
Meanwhile, Jigawa’s Police Commissioner, Tijjani Abdullahi, warned potential protest participants to reconsider, stating, “The security agencies in the state are combat-ready to deal with anyone who wants to breach public peace and order.”
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