Hardship: Benue Residents Shun Protest

Residents of Makurdi and the entire Benue have shunned the 10-day nationwide protest, which began on Thursday.

Residents of Makurdi, the state capital, its suburbs, and other communities, ignored the protest and were seen going about their normal lawful businesses.

All motor parks and markets in Makurdi were said to be open and transactions were happening steadily.

Governor Hyacinth Alia had pleaded with all Benue residents not to participate in the protest to keep enjoying peace in the state.

A motorcyclist, Mr Aondozungwe Pila, explained that the residents decided against the protest after yielding to the pleas of Governor Alia.

Pila said that their decision against the protest was, however, not because the protest did not make sense.

“The protest is appropriate. It is staged at the right time. We have suffered for too long. The government needs to liberate us.

“Government should do things that will bring the socioeconomic life of Nigerians back,” Pila said.

Similarly, a Don at the Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi, who pleaded anonymity, noted that the general hardship had become unbearable.

He claimed that Nigerians were no longer happy people, noting that before now, there was a saying that Nigerians do smile even when they are faced with severe hardship, but Nigerians were no longer smiling at the moment.

“This means that this suffering at this material time is beyond what many Nigerians can bear.

“The hardship is hitting Nigerians very hard. Most Nigerians find it difficult to feed even once a day. This is sad and unacceptable,” he said.

Ochefu Owoicho