Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has said making ‘unwarranted’ and ‘unguarded statements’ against President BolaTinubu’s government over insecurity and rising food prices will have consequences.
Mr Matawalle, in a statement by the ministry of defence
spokesperson, Henshaw Ogubike, on Friday, “cautioned Nigerians against using
inflammatory comments against the government.“
He said, “Unguarded utterances coming from some sections of
the populace are incisive and destructive and can exacerbate tensions and lead
to violence in our beloved nation.”
Mr Matawalle said Mr Tinubu “is trying his best in tackling
the economic challenges being experienced by Nigerians. The President and his
team are tirelessly working to alleviate the burdens on the Nigerian populace,
advising the agents of disunity to refrain from further unwarranted utterances,
as such will have consequences.”
Mr Matawalle’s warning came on the heels of anger over
economic hardship and rising food prices. The National Bureau of Statistics
reported that the country’s inflation rate increased to 29.90 per cent in
January 2024 from 28.92 per cent recorded in December 2023.
Last week, in Niger, Kano, Osun states, protested against
the high cost of food, while the Nigerian Labour Congress declared a two-day
nationwide protest over the issue.
Amid the development, Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde “KWAM1”
and a Nollywood actor, Olaiya Igwe, who campaigned for Mr Tinubu, have raised
the alarm over the increasing process of commodities in the country.
Also, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar-led Northern
Traditional Council warned that rising poverty, hunger and insecurity in the
country would force people to revolt against President Bola Tinubu’s government
soon.
In his response, Mr Tinubu directed the Ministry of
Agriculture and Food Security to release about 42,000 metric tonnes of grain,
including maize, millet and garri across the country.
On Thursday, Mr Tinubu directed the National Security
Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, State Security Service and the Nigeria Police to go after
food hoarders.
The International
Monetary Fund in a summary of its assessment of the Nigerian economy lauded Mr
Tinubu’s release of “cereals from the grain reserve, provided subsidised
fertiliser to farmers,” amongst others as measures “to ease the impact of
rapidly rising inflation on living conditions.”
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