A coalition of traditional leaders from Northern Nigeria, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, has warned President Tinubu of the potential for popular revolt due to the deteriorating economic and security situation in the region. According to the People’s Gazette, the council specifically highlighted poverty, hunger, and insecurity as key factors that could lead to unrest.
“It is getting to a level that traditional leaders could no longer pacify the people from revolting against government and political leaders that are supposed to find solutions to their lingering socio-economic plight,” Mr Sa’ad said.
“We have reached that level, people are very agitated, people are hungry, they are angry, but they still believe there are people who can talk to them, they believe in some of their Governors, some other traditional rulers and some of their religious leaders, fortunately some of us double as traditional and religious leaders.”
Sultan Sa’ad, speaking in his capacity as both a traditional and religious leader, issued a warning at the 6th executive Northern Traditional Council meeting, held in Kaduna on Wednesday. He expressed concern that the ongoing economic and security crisis in the region could lead to popular unrest if not addressed. ‘We can’t keep quieting the people forever,’ he warned. ‘They may wake up one day and decide to no longer believe in the assurances we’ve been giving them. And that would be a serious problem.
Lamenting rising poverty and insecurity, Mr Sa’ad said “To make matters worse, we are faced with rising level of poverty of most of our people; lack of normal sources of livelihood by the common man to have even a good meal a day.”
He added that “But, I believe talking about insecurity and the rising level of poverty are two issues that we cannot fold our arms and think everything is okay. I have said it so many times and at so many fora that, things are not okay in Nigeria and of course, things are not okay in the North.”