Former Niger State lawmaker, Malik Madaki Bosso, has urged political leaders to show compassion towards Nigerians who are grappling with economic hardship as the country marks 26 years of democracy.
In a statement made available to journalists in Minna to mark Democracy Day, Bosso expressed concerns that despite promises of "dividends of democracy," many Nigerians continue to struggle with poverty and deprivation.
The former representative of Bosso constituency warned that citizens may lose faith in democratic governance if their living conditions do not improve. "There is nothing to be celebrated," he stated, noting that the occasion cannot be marked with the usual festivities due to the prevailing economic situation.
Citizens Fending for Themselves
"The people have taken their destinies into their hands after the removal of subsidies by providing for themselves security, electricity, water, education, healthcare and shelter, basic provisions that a responsible government should provide to its people," Bosso remarked.
He advised the current leadership to prioritize citizens' welfare and implement policies that alleviate suffering to prevent potential social disorder.
Food Security Concerns
The former lawmaker also highlighted challenges to Nigeria's food security agenda, pointing to contradictory trends in the agricultural sector. While food prices are decreasing in markets, the costs of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, chemicals, seeds, and machinery have become prohibitively expensive for farmers.
"Such a contradictory scenario portends grave danger for the country as many small holder farmers who produced most of the food will be unable to farm in this farming season," he observed.
Bosso further noted that insecurity continues to plague farming communities, with "large chunks of land presently in the hands of bandits and terrorists," further complicating agricultural production.
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