Jigawa Govt Holds Townhall Meeting to Stop Hunger Protest
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
Jigawa State Government on Monday held a townhall meeting to dissuade residents from joining the nationwide anti hunger strike being organised by Gen Z.
The meeting attended by Governor Umar Namadi, secured the support of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Student Unions and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), who disassociated themselves from the planned nationwide protest.
Namadi urged those planning the protest to exercise more patience as the government is aware of the condition of the people in the country.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we the governors and all other leaders, are disturbed by the situation,” he added.
Whereas those planning the protest have linked the excruciating economic hardship in the country to bad governance, Namadi said people should not deviate from the belief that everything is from the Almighty.
“As Muslims, we all believe everything is from Allah, the Almighty. We all know and believe that no any human being has power to make his fellow human rich or poor, healthy or sick, but only the Almighty Allah.
“It is part of the pillars of Islam for all Muslims to believe in whatever comes or happened, whether good or bad, anywhere, and any time is from Allah Almighty. What we have found ourselves in, is a trial from Him. Those calling for protest, whom will they protest against?”, he queried.
According to him, the government is doing a lot to bring the situation under control through various measures and alternatives.
“You are all aware of the recent federal government directives on importing food items, and the distribution of rice to all the 36 states and FC.
“Many policies and programme are in top gear in agriculture and food production in the state. All this to improve food production and achieve food security in the country.”
In his part the state Chairman of CAN, Rev. Fr. Maurice Hassan said the Christian community in Jigawa state will not join protest.
“CAN Jigawa state is not and will not be part of the protest. We are in support of peaceful co-existence and we will not allow or be part of anything that would tamper with the peace in the state and country,” he said.
The Christian leader, however, called on those in the corridors of power to find solutions to the current hardship.
“I’m appealing to the government to find a solution, people are in serious, terrible situation”.
The Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Sunusi Alhassan said they have not received any directive from their main union to join the protect. “We will not be part of this protest because our national secretariat is not a party to it.”
Also, the President, National Association of Jigawa State Students (NAJIS), Comrade, Abdullahi Garba said they would not allow those he termed as selfish individuals and groups to use the youth to destabilise the peace of the nation.
