The General Overseer of El-Buba Outreach Ministries International, Prophet Isa El-Buba, and a former minister of sports, Solomon Dalong on Thursday, August 1 led the #end bad governance protest in Jos.
El-Buba who is also the Convener of Initiative for Better and Brighter Nigeria, had issued a press statement on July 30 notifying the public about the protest. He had informed in the statement that all security agencies were duly aware of the protest.
Both EL-Buba and Dalong from the online video monitored by Church Times took turns addressing the protesters who gathered at the Secretariat roundabout of the Jos City
In his address at the protest ground, El-Buba told the mammoth crowd that he was only pursuing the Nigerian agenda and not any other agenda as insinuated by the Tinubu-led government.
“I want to say this protest is not motivated by selfish motive, it is not a Fulani agenda, it is not a northern agenda, it is a Nigerian agenda for good governance.” He stated
El-Buba said he had always fought against bad governance in Nigeria recalling how he stood against former President Mohammadu Buhari whom he described as the “most evil” government in the history of Nigeria.
A new Nigeria
He urged President Tinubu to reverse the pump price of petroleum while noting that the economic crisis in the country can be traced to the undue increment.
“We are demanding a new Nigeria now. We will not allow this to wait till 2027. For the next 10 days, we will call on this government to do the right thing. The journey has just started”
Also addressing the crowd, Dalong who was minister of sports during the first term of former President Buhari went philosophical. Quoting Frantz Fanon, he said, “Every onlooker in the face of tyranny is either coward or traitor.”
He regretted being part of the All Progress Congress. “I was part of the government during the tenure of President Buhari. I was part of the system. I did not know the party would lead Nigeria into this mess. I have apologised in the past and I am still apologising for being part of those who brought APC to power.” He said.
Dalong who has since pulled out of the APC said Nigeria deserved a better deal. “The struggle for a better future starts now. At 60, I can’t fold my hands. We can’t continue to pretend that a better country is not possible. I am standing in solidarity with the people of Nigeria to demand a better country. We are here to protest peacefully against hunger, injustice, and impunity in the system.” He said.
Dalong lamented the increase in goods and services in the country since the APC-led government came to power. “In 2015 the exchange rate was N187 to a dollar, rice was N15,000. But today it’s a different story.” He said.
He called on all politicians who have been part of the rot in the country to apologise to Nigerians and turn a new leaf.