Vice President Kashim Shettima recently shared his thoughts on the destruction of public and private properties in the North during the ten-day nationwide protest.

On August 1, 2024, Nigerians protested against bad governance, hunger, corruption, insecurity and the high cost of living in the country.

This protest took a different turn in the North, resulting in the death of protesters and the vandalism of properties.

During a graduation ceremony for 20 indigent pupils of Hau’wa Memorial School (HMS), owned by AMA Foundation, Shettima, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmad, lamented the tolerance of government policies that have caused the people to disregard the law.

He stated that the buildup of these issues led to the destruction of lives and property during the protests against economic hardship.

He said, “For too long we have tolerated poverty, corruption, poor leadership, and we can see the result, a generation that has come up with no respect for God, the law of the land, leadership, or our values.”

Shettima assured the people of President Bola Tinubu’s plan to restore Nigeria to prosperity and that future generations would benefit from the legacies of past leaders such as Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.

Regarding the recent unrest, Shettima noted, “In the last two weeks, the country has gone through difficult times, mostly led by youth—young people who are angry because they are hungry, young people who do not see any prospects for a better future, young people who think the government does not care about them, and young people who have no respect for any authority because they believe every authority has let them down.”

He also urged the youth to channel their anger towards changing the political system, and encouraged parents to be more involved in raising their children, adding that there is no justification for stealing or looting.

“We have to work hard for this country and believe that Nigeria can be fixed. If the politics we are running are not conducive, change it; if the system we are operating is not producing good leadership, peace, and security, change it—but do not walk away from servicing the people who have no one else to look up to,” he said.