Former Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, and Prophet Isa El-Buba were among the prominent figures leading the “End Bad Governance” protest in Jos on Thursday.
The Pathway News reports that the protest, primarily composed of youths, saw participants marching through the major streets of Jos, chanting solidarity songs. The organizers announced that the protest would continue from August 1 to August 10.
Speaking at the onset of the protest, Dalung emphasized that the demonstration was aimed at demanding better governance from the authorities. “There is poverty in the land, Nigerians are hungry, and the cost of living is biting harder and harder,” he said. “We are on the streets not to cause trouble, but to peacefully call on the government to address the current challenges in the country.”
Prophet Isa El-Buba, the Convener of the Initiative for Better and Brighter Nigeria (IBBN), echoed similar sentiments, calling on President Bola Tinubu to implement measures to end corruption and improve governance in Nigeria. “This is a fight to retrieve the soul of the future of Nigeria and its descendants,” he stated.
El-Buba further stressed the importance of securing good governance for the nation’s future. “None of us is going to retreat because we have a responsibility to make sure that the voice of the people is the voice of God. When they speak, it is God speaking, and God is saying that we must end bad governance in Nigeria,” he said.
He also highlighted the connection between good governance and the well-being of the citizens, noting that with the right institutions in place, there would be no hunger, violence would decrease, and the armed forces would serve the people more effectively. “We are going to push on until we get what is meant for Nigeria because it is better to suffer today and secure the future of our country,” El-Buba added.
The prophet further expressed his desire for a Nigeria free from religious and tribal manipulation, calling for unity among citizens. He encouraged the protesters, saying, “We want a Nigeria where nobody uses religion or tribalism to seduce or manipulate us.”
El-Buba also reminisced about a time in Nigeria when national unity was strong, and the government took care of citizens’ education and employment needs. “I grew up in a Nigeria where we were known as Nigerians instead of our individual tribes. I grew up in a Nigeria where going to school from primary to university was taken care of by the government. Then, before you graduate, a job is waiting for you, and that is the kind of Nigeria we want,” he said.
The protest in Jos is part of a larger movement to demand accountability and better governance across Nigeria, with organizers planning to mobilize even more participants in the coming days.
