The Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, warned that Nigeria could slide into anarchy if urgent action is not taken to check the suffering majority of Nigerians are currently facing.
The Acting National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Ishaq, stated this on Monday.
Referring to last Friday and Monday, where FCT residents at Idu-Karmo and Dei-Dei e broke into warehouses and made away with food items., and similar incidents in Dogarawa, a suburb of Zaria in Kaduna State, where residents were reported looting cartons of spaghetti from a parked truck belonging to BUA Company, the party noted that the incidents are a symptom of a larger problem that requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, including industrialists and the business community..
The party said, “The recent reports of looting of trucks carrying food items on our highways and cities are warning signals of the looming anarchy and turmoil which Nigeria faces in the foreseeable future if drastic measures are not taken to address the serious cost of living crisis facing the majority of Nigerian citizens
“Yes, there is hunger and hardship in the land. Yes, there is poverty in the land, and the ruling elite has weaponized poverty, which has made citizens trade their votes for a pack or two of spaghetti as we saw in last year’s elections.”
The PRP acknowledged the difficult conditions faced by many, but cautioned the citizens against the weaponization of poverty by the ruling class to compel them to engage in criminal looting of other people’s goods.
It said transitioning from the mass lootings to the broader is something that is very worrisome, and appealed to industrialists to show empathy and reason by taking immediate steps to lower the prices of goods.
“It is crucial for businessmen to understand their role in society and prioritize the welfare of the people in their dealings. The dollar price, which has been used as an excuse to hike prices, has come down, yet the market has not seen an immediate downward review of prices,” the statement added.
The PRP appealed to the government to provide relief to the people.
“This includes addressing food inflation, generating employment opportunities, and ensuring the equitable distribution of resources, which, according to the party, have been mishandled by many states,” it said.