Abuja- Dr. Ayokunle Fagbemi, Executive Director of the Center for Peacebuilding and Socio-Economic Resources Development (CePSERD), has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to prevent the looming #EndBadGovernance 2.0 Protest, tagged “Fearless in October,” which is set to commence on October 1, 2024.
This was gathered from a statement signed by Dr. Ayo Fagbemi himself and made available to Freshvoice Newsmedia Sunday afternoon.
Speaking at the National Association of Seadogs’ (Pyrates Confraternity, Zuma Deck) Citizens’ Forum on “Energy Crisis in a Biting Economy: What Citizens Say,” held at NICON Luxury Hotel in Abuja, Dr. Fagbemi emphasized that the APC-led Federal Government has only seventy-two hours to initiate necessary steps to stabilize the nation and avert the protests.
Dr. Fagbemi highlighted the urgency for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement mediating and mitigating directives in his upcoming Independence Day speech on October 1st. He urged the President to make adjustments that demonstrate responsiveness to citizens’ concerns, especially concerning the ongoing energy crisis.
“President Tinubu must take proactive steps to restore the public’s trust in his administration by showing that his government listens and responds to citizens’ grievances, particularly on energy challenges. These steps would be crucial in averting the widely anticipated protest,” said Dr. Fagbemi.
In his address, Dr. Fagbemi made several recommendations, including the following:
1. **Issue a Presidential Directive to the Attorney General of the Federation** to enter “Nolle prosequi” regarding charged protesters and facilitate the release of all those currently in detention in connection with the #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protests.
2. **Direct the Department of State Services (DSS)** to relocate Citizen Nnamdi Kanu to a “protected halfway-house safe haven” pending the resolution of his legal issues, with improved access to legal and medical teams.
Furthermore, Dr. Fagbemi stressed the need for a comprehensive **Public Institutions Performance and Citizens Feedback Monitoring Framework** to ensure proactive governance. He urged President Tinubu to issue an Executive Order that would streamline agencies, including SERVICOM, FCCPC, and NERC, in responding to citizens’ needs.
On behalf of concerned citizens, Dr. Fagbemi outlined key expectations:
– Achieving energy security through demystification of the fuel subsidy regime and dismantling corrupt structures.
– Prosecuting culprits involved in criminal activities within the petroleum and electricity sectors.
– Addressing the governance flaws of the 1999 Constitution and related policy frameworks that perpetuate the energy crisis.
Dr. Fagbemi also called on the National Assembly leadership to focus on receiving detailed, notarized reports from relevant stakeholders rather than initiating sensational public probes into the energy sector. He proposed that the Senate President constitute a research study group to verify data and offer proactive solutions.
In conclusion, Dr. Fagbemi appealed to civil society organizations, private sector stakeholders (including IPMAN and DISCOs), and government agencies to work collaboratively towards solving the country’s energy challenges.
