The Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Leadership (AYAGL) has expressed their willingness to engage in dialogue with the federal government to address their grievances. However, they have issued a stern warning that if the governor does not initiate the dialogue process by the end of next week, they will have no choice but to return to the streets in protest. This statement was made by the Speaker of AYAGL, Ambassador Andul Danbature, during a telephone conversation shortly after he appeared on Channels Television to provide more insight into the ongoing protest and the reasons behind its suspension.
Danbature emphasized that the movement was born out of the need to express their frustrations and the urgent need for the federal government to address their demands. According to him, “We started this movement because we want to express our grievances and anger and the need for the federal government to meet our needs.” The AYAGL has laid out several demands, which they believe are critical to the well-being of the masses, especially the youth.
Among their key demands is the reinstatement of the fuel subsidy, which they argue is essential for alleviating the financial burden on the average Nigerian. The removal of the subsidy, according to them, has exacerbated the economic challenges faced by ordinary citizens, leading to widespread inflation and unemployment. This, they believe, has left the poor masses vulnerable and struggling to make ends meet in an already difficult economic environment.
In addition to the fuel subsidy, the AYAGL is calling for the creation of employment opportunities for the youth. They argue that the current level of unemployment in the country is unacceptable and that the government must take immediate action to create jobs and provide opportunities for the younger generation. The lack of employment, they believe, is a significant contributor to the growing frustration and anger among the youth, which has led to widespread protests across the country.
Another critical demand of the AYAGL is the cessation of payments to former governors. They argue that the continued payment of pensions and other benefits to ex-governors is a waste of public funds, especially in a country where many citizens are struggling to survive. The AYAGL believes that these funds could be better utilized in addressing the pressing needs of the masses, such as creating jobs and improving infrastructure.
The group is also calling for the relocation of all service chiefs to the North West region to address the security challenges in that area more effectively. They believe that the presence of these high-ranking officials in the region will allow for a more holistic approach to tackling the insecurity that has plagued the North West for years. The AYAGL is of the opinion that the current approach to addressing insecurity in the region is inadequate and that a more hands-on approach is needed.
Furthermore, the AYAGL is demanding a reversal of harsh government policies that they believe have further impoverished the masses. They argue that the current policies are not in the best interest of the people and that the government must take immediate action to reverse them. According to Danbature, “Our major problem is the removal of fuel subsidy and naira inflation which has affected poor masses and resulted in unemployment. There is no single development on ground that will benefit the poor masses directly, all we know is that money is being released from the federation account to the National Assembly and also to the governors.”
Danbature also highlighted the efforts made by the AYAGL to engage with the youth and sensitize them on the issues at hand. He noted that the group has worked hard to educate the youth on the root causes of their problems and the role that state governors play in exacerbating these issues. “When we started this movement, we sensitize the youths to understand that our major problem is the governors who sit on allocations from the federal government. We also engaged our coordinator at the local government to engage the governors,” he said.
The AYAGL has commended the federal government for calling for dialogue, which they have agreed to. They acknowledged that the peaceful protest they initially organized has been hijacked by hoodlums, which was not part of their plan. This development, they said, prompted their decision to suspend the protest and take the path of dialogue with the government. “We however commended the Federal Government for calling for dialogue which we have agreed to because the peaceful protest which we started has been hijacked by hoodlums which is not part of our plans and that is why we have suspended the protest to take the part of dialogue with the government,” Danbature stated.
Despite their willingness to engage in dialogue, the AYAGL has made it clear that they are not willing to wait indefinitely for the government to take action. They have given the federal government and the governor a deadline of the end of next week to initiate the dialogue process. Failure to do so, they warn, will result in the resumption of their protests. “We are ready to dialogue with the Federal government on our demands and we are giving the government between now and next week, in which failure to do so, we will return back to the streets and continue the protest,” Danbature stressed.
The AYAGL’s demands reflect the broader concerns of many Nigerians who are grappling with the effects of the government’s economic policies. The removal of the fuel subsidy, in particular, has been a major source of discontent, with many arguing that it has led to a sharp increase in the cost of living. The AYAGL’s call for the creation of employment opportunities is also a reflection of the growing frustration among the youth, who feel that they have been left behind by a government that has failed to deliver on its promises.
The AYAGL’s decision to suspend their protest and engage in dialogue with the government is a positive step, but the group has made it clear that they will not hesitate to return to the streets if their demands are not met. The ball is now in the government’s court to address the concerns of the AYAGL and the broader Nigerian population. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the government is willing to engage in meaningful dialogue and take the necessary steps to address the issues raised by the AYAGL.
