A group of northern youths staged a protest by burning the Nigerian flag to express their discontent with the worsening cost of living and economic difficulties prevalent during the initial year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a video shared on X recently, the youths were captured setting fire to the flag while lamenting the dire economic circumstances. They criticized the government’s lavish spending on nonessential matters amidst the ongoing economic crisis.
Addressing President Bola Tinubu directly, they exclaimed, “We elected you into power, but look at the situation we are facing: people are resorting to eating leaves while you live luxuriously.”
The youths highlighted the exorbitant prices of basic commodities, citing a packet of spaghetti now costing over N700, making it unaffordable for the poor.
Furthermore, they interpreted Nigeria’s defeat to Cote d’Ivoire in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final as a necessary wake-up call to redirect attention to the prevailing hardships.
Expressing their dissatisfaction, they stated, “We are grateful to God for Nigeria’s loss in the football competition. We pray that Nigeria doesn’t succeed if this is how the country is being governed. We are fed up with everything.”
Despite the protests, President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to endure, acknowledging that his bold economic reforms may lead to temporary hardships but are crucial for future economic prosperity.
In his New Year address, he emphasized resilience in the face of socio-economic challenges, affirming that tough times are temporary and expressing confidence in the country’s potential for progress.