Nigerians have taken to social media to berate and condemn the call for protest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration by a renowned Northern group.
On Monday, Arewa Twiter Connect, on its verified X handle, called the entire country to stage a demonstration against the hike in the pump price of fuel.
“Fuel selling for N1,000+, this is the time for Nigerians to call for mass protest. Enough is enough,” the statement reads.
The tweet, which generated backlash from Nigerians, saw a large section of Nigerians criticize the North for calling for a demonstration despite remaining silent during the administration of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari.
Chronicle NG reports that Nigerians continue to bemoan the immense hardship they endure as a result of the statewide fuel shortage, which has made conducting business and other activities extremely challenging.
Commuters in Sokoto state said most filling stations are locked under the guise that they lack product to dispense, while black marketers are selling a liter of fuel between N2,000 and N2,500 across the metropolis.
Some residents, speaking with a reporter, called on the government to intervene to bring the situation under control so as not to degenerate.
Reacting to the call by the Arewa community, an X user identified as Sizzle notes, “When we warned you guys, you told us that the worst Muslim president is better than the best Christian candidate. So enjoy your much-acclaimed Muslim-Muslim ticket. Please, you can start the protests in the north.”
In Oluyomi Damiete’s reaction, he said, “Arewa to protest, not Nigerians. But unfortunately, the protest is Haram respecting your leaders. 4+4=8 years go by. You lot will eat grass.”
Another X user, @crixwr, stated that the call for demonstrations over the hike in the price of fuel “is a northern problem, not a Nigerian problem.
He added that “the present state of Nigeria is a testimony to northern actions. I will not recommend any right-thinking Nigerian to get involved in any protest, which will be sabotaged as the former.”
Another X handle with the name Peter Obi 1st Son berated the North for refusing to join protests against the administration of ex-president Muhammadu Buhari.
“The reason I won’t support any protest is not because I am a southerner, but because we had several reasons to protest under @MBuhari, but Arewa decided to play tribe and religion cards, so let us continue from that path they set,” the handle wrote.
Recalling the #EndSARS protest, Chukwu Emeka argued, saying, “Where were you during the #EndSARS protest? You denied your citizenship to support the status quo because your cult hero was in power.
“There shall be no mass protests in the South; let the North carry their cross after all you claimed you gave Tinubu the highest votes.”
Chinedu Peter urged Nigerians not to join any protest against Tinubu’s administration, saying, “Nobody should waste his or her time protesting.
“The last time we checked, the protest in Nigeria was haram in certain parts of Northern Nigeria, and none protested because of Baba Buhari. We’re doing perfectly alright.”
For Olusoji, he states that “no mass protest will happen.”
He urged Nigerians to “remain patriotic and pray for fuel scarcity to go instead of protesting.”
