The Presidential Candidate of Accord Party in the 2023 election, Prof Christopher Imumolen says time has come for the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government to sell hope to Nigerians in view of the challenges ravaging the country.
This comes as groups have been mobilizing support on the social media to draw the attention of the federal government to what they tag escalating hardship, increasing cost of living and drastic reduction in living standard, as well as insecurity.
The federal government in response to the planned protest has however urged the organisers to consider dropping the plan, saying the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is making efforts to address their demands.
Recall that the federal government had approved the release of 20 trucks of rice to each of the 36 states of the federation for distribution among needy citizens.
Additionally, the government has also approved the N70,000 minimum wage bill brought before it by the National Assembly for commencement of implementation, a policy believed to be aiming at enhancing the take-home pay of workers across the country.
Also, the federal government said it has set up centres for citizens to purchase 50kg of rice at a 50% discounted race to help families have more to feed.
But beyond these, Prof. Imumolen, a vocal youth advocate believes the nation’s leader should engage with citizens in a robust communication and sell hope to them.
In a video release, Prof. Imumolen said the government is facing its challenges but despite that, citizens need hope to sustain them.
“Hope is that thing you look up to, even when you are faced with critical times, you’ll have that hope that very soon, we will be out of this.
“The only way that hope will come is for the President to begin to engage and continously assure Nigerian youths that, look, we understand what you’re going through, we know that things have not been going right, but there is hope.
“These are the things we are doing to put things right, just bear with us. That communication cannot be overemphasized, it must be on continous basis, Mr. President must use this time to talk to Nigerian youths, and begin to engage through the media”, he advised.
He said the social media that has become a tool to spread this protests must also be used to counter the protest promoters by sending message of hope to all Nigerians.
The political activist urged President Bola Tinubu to consider running an all inclusive government and embrace Nigerians with capacity and intellectual wherewithal to support in building this nation.
He urged that political appointments should not be based on reward but a deliberate effort to incorporate people who have with it takes to contribute meaningfully in various sectors of the nation’s economy and deliver results.
