ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- National Chairman of the Accord Party, Barrister Maxwell Mgbudem, has called on President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, address the issue of high cost of food items in the country.
Mgbudem says Nigerians are hungry and are in need of palliatives to ease their sufferings.
According to him, millions of citizens are disillusioned, and cannot say where their next meal will come from.
He said this is due to the extreme economic hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy, liberalisation and floating of the exchange rate that led to the crash of the naira and unprecedented inflation across the country.
He added that Nigerians are protesting the high cost of food as obtainable in 1984 when there was scarcity of essential commodities during the General Muhammadu Buhari military regime.
“Accord feels the grief of Nigerians in this difficult time and urges President Tinubu to release adequate grains he promised to meet the needs of fellow compatriots bearing in mind Section 14 (2)b of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, which provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.
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“It is obvious that the economic hardship is responsible for the spike in crimes and insecurity in the country, particularly terrorism, insurgency, banditry, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom. Unfortunately, no part of the nation is safe, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” he said.
The party further demanded a state of emergency on high rates of food items and insecurity in the country.
“The Federal Government should act fast and save citizens from hunger and guarantee their safety by tackling the food crisis and insecurity head-on,” the opposition party added.
Accord vowed to continue to champion the cause of the masses as a major stakeholder in the democratic process, insisting that the electorate voted for change, a better life and not hunger and carnage.
“It is time to salvage our dear nation and redirect the ship of the state from its perilous course. It is time to stop the awkward baby steps and ill-conceived policies and actions that have impoverished the populace and take giant steps to economic recovery, delivery of dividends of democracy, political stability and technological advancement that will lead Nigerians to the Promised Land of abundance, unity and patriotism.
“We are all in it together to make Nigeria great again as the foremost arsenal of democracy in Africa,” he said.