From Joseph Asegba, Yola
As the Endbadgovernce protest enters its 4th day, Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has called that as the government has heard the citizens they must be seen doing the needful in providing solutions to citizens’ concerns.
In a statewide broadcast at Government at House Chambers in Yola, Adamawa state he said, it is the time to “safely say our people have to harken to our calls for calm and the situation is peaceful; where there are pockets of protests, the protesters are a minority, who are conducting themselves in the most respectable civil manner while pressing home their demands for good governance and a better life for the citizens of Nigeria.”
He noted that “even though the protest might be unpopular, especially with the way and manner it is carried out in some states across the country, the message is clear and the demands are genuine.”
“None of us can deny the fact that there is hunger and general poverty in the land; this has been made worse by the harsh economic realities, a deficient policy direction and the insensitivity of the national government to engage the citizens civilly.”
According to him, As leaders of the people, we must at all times not only listen but act. The lesson we must derive from the protest is the constant reminder that it is not enough to tell the citizens, “We have heard”, we must be seen as doing the needful in providing solutions to citizens’ concerns, he said.
His words, “Fellow citizens for the past four days of the protest regime, I have gone round, especially the state capital, and can see the level of trust we have mutually developed. It is that trust that gave me the confidence to come out, move freely and officially inspect ongoing projects in the state.
“I must thank you all for the show of support which has rekindled my resolve to do more and continue to serve you. I have seen love; I have equally seen genuine affection that knows no bounds at a time when the situation is rancorous in other climes.”
