Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has raised concerns about the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, revealing that most participants in his state were young Almajiris who were unaware of the reasons behind the demonstrations.
The protests, which began on August 1 across Nigeria to demand economic improvements, initially remained peaceful. However, they took a violent turn in some northern states, leading to looting, destruction, and the imposition of curfews.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Governor Sule stated, “During this last protest that we had in Lafia, the majority of those that came out on the streets were the Almajiris – some of them five years old, seven years old, nine years old.”
He added, “A lot of them didn’t even understand the meaning of the protest. When I spoke with them later, they didn’t even know what they were protesting against.”
The governor emphasized the need for northern leaders to address the region’s challenges, particularly in education. “One of the biggest problems we have in the north, from the day I came, is the idea of education and the one we are still pushing on,” Sule remarked.
He warned of potential consequences if the situation is not addressed, stating, “When people actually don’t have education and don’t have economic empowerment, these people will continue to behave the way these Almajiri actually behaved during this protest.”
Sule recalled a previous attempt by northern governors to tackle the Almajiri issue in 2020, which faced criticism from religious leaders. However, he believes recent events may change perspectives: “From what happened now, I don’t believe anybody will continue to criticize actions that will be taken in order to move forward. Otherwise, it’s a ticking time bomb, it will come and consume every one of us.”
The governor called for honesty and serious action on education in the North, viewing the protests as a wake-up call for regional leaders to intensify efforts in addressing their local issues.
