As the 10-day nationwide protests against hunger and bad governance ended on Saturday, former Chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, has advised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to quickly cut the cost of governance as part of measures to address the demands of the protesters.

Mazi Ohuabunwa who was one of the presidential aspirants of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2023 primaries, said Tinubu’s nationwide address on the protest did not indicate any effort by his administration to bring down the cost of governance.

He said that the high cost of governance which had continued to soar under Tinubu’s Government, was one of the key demands of the protesters which must be urgently addressed to show that President had truly heard the protesters.

Ohuabunwa also urged the President to convince Nigerians that his administration was seriously committed to fighting corruption.

” Government should address issues raised by the protesters. The cost of living crisis and cost of governance crisis have not been addressed. Although Government has shown it is doing something about cost of living which will take time to materialise.
” In the area of cost of governance, we can’t see what government is doing to show it is in the same camp with the rest of the suffering masses who it told to endure. On the part of government, there is no attempt to fight corruption”.

The former National President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, PSN, also advised the President to heed the growing appeals for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, which is among the demands of the protesters.

According to Mazi Ohuabunwa, Kanu’s release, will seriously help to restore peace and security to the South East as his continued detention is part of major reasons for the tension in South East.

“Insecurity in the South East is traceable to the continued detention of IPOB Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The exploitation of his continued detention by some elements, and other unresolved issues pertaining to Biafra agitation are contributory factors to insecurity in the zone.”

Responding, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, demanded holist constitutional amendment and electronic voting.

President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, also demanded true independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, insisting that the President should stop appointing INEC Chairman.
“We need an electoral reform that will usher in an electronic voting system where votes are transmitted at the same time of voting. We need an incorruptible electoral system where those who manipulate the people votes are made to face the law.

“The Chairman of INEC should not be appointment by the President but the should emerge according to hierarchy in INEC. A situation where the National Chairman is not appointed by anyone will led to transparency in the commission because he is not loyal or indebted to anyone anywhere.
“Political office holders will take governance and the governed serious if the votes of the people count. The bedrock for good governance is transparent electoral system.

“The constitution should be amended to ensure that the judiciary and the legislature are completely independent, performing their constitutional functions and duties of check and balances.

“Judges should emerge by hierarchy in the service and not by appointment by the executive. The Senate and the Federal House of representative should have the free hand to elect their leaders. INEC should be Independent to ensure that the votes of the people counts at the polls. “

Reacting also, rights activist and the Executive Director, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), Comrade Nnanna Nwafor, asked for genuine p prosecution of all corrupt public officials.

He also asked the President to strengthen anti-graft agencies and different institutions, as well as electoral reforms.

“Strengthen institutions and anti-graft agencies to prevent corruption and bring corrupt actors to justice; enhance international cooperation and partnership.

“We need electoral reforms and Government should cut cost of governance.”