ASUU strike, #EndSARS protest may consume Nigeria if…, Ohuabunwa warns FG
* Says protesters deserve attention not attack
By Steve Oko
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa has advised the federal government to find ways to urgently resolve the seven month strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU as well as the growing nationwide protests against police brutality otherwise known as #EndSARS.
The former Speaker ECOWAS Parliament who gave the advice in a press statement warned that both issues if unresolved quickly could consume the entire country.
Senator Ohuabunwa who represented Abia North in the eight senate noted that Arab spring which consumed autocratic regimes in some Arab nations began “this way with aggrieved youths”.
He said that no reasonsble and responsive government should allow agitated youths to remain on the streets for days without giving them attention.
Ohuabunwa maintained that the #EndSARS protests were a spontaneous response to police brutality which government had inexcusably failed to address before now.
According to him, the grievances of the youth movement which is now enjoying global support “should be holistically addressed before the protest snowballs into something monstrous.”
He threw his weight behind the clamour for total reform of the Nigerian Police to restore public confidence in the force.
Establishing a nexus between the festering nationwide protests and lingering ASUU strike, Ohuabunwa said the protests could worsen in the days ahead if ASUU strike is not resolved.
He expressed worry over the deadlock at the Thursday meeting between the federal government and ASUU leadership aimed at resolving the impasse.
The former Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Health and Communicable Diseases expressed fury over the negative impacts of the strike on the education sector and future of the Nigeria youths.
He urged the Federal Government to listen to the demands of the university lecturers whose inestimable contributions to nation building he said , “are inevitable.”
Ohuabunwa warned that unless the disenchanted Nigeria students return to schools, the ongoing protests which are also ways of ventilating their anger and frustration might not end any time soon.
The former Deputy Leader, House of Representatives, maintained that citizens have the legitimate right to peaceful protest as guaranteed in the constitution.
He further cautioned security agencies and mischief makers against using force on the protesters who he said have the right to ventilate their feelings.
Ohuabunwa who is an advocate of restructuring further argued that the worrisome developments in the country including the undying agitations for self rule in some regions have made “holistic and sincere overhauling of the Nigeria structure very imperative”.
“I have always said it that we have a lot of flaws in the lopsided 1999 Nigeria constitution, and now is the right time to dispassionately right the wrongs if we are sincere with national unity and cohesion”, he said.
Senator Ohuabunwa warned that should Nigeria fail to restructure any time soon, the country might not survive the current pressure and genuine demands of the citizenry.
Lamenting that some unpatriotic elements and cabals have taken Nigeria democracy into hostage, Ohuabunwa warned those behind the “pains” of the country to “beware that the youths are growing impatient, and may no longer bear for too long”.
Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria. 
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