Haruna Jilantikiri, the Chief Whip of Adamawa State House of Assembly, has sparked a wave of reactions on social media after dropping his personal car and taking up his bicycle in protest against the recent hike in fuel prices.
Jilantikiri, who represents Madagali Constituency at the Assembly, opted for the use of his bicycle as a means of transportation for his daily activities, citing his solidarity with the masses who are grappling with the harsh realities of the new petrol price regime.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he lamented that the new price regime is taking a devastating toll on Nigerians, who are struggling to make ends meet. He argued that Nigerians are left with no choice but to bear the brunt of the situation, with the majority of citizens unable to afford the new petrol prices for their cars or motorcycles.
The lawmaker stressed that leaders like him ought to be at the forefront of the protest against the trend and set an example by using bicycles to identify with their electorate instead of cars.
He appealed to the Federal Government to address the problem without delay to ease the hardship already being experienced by the masses.
This is not the first time a Nigerian lawmaker has taken to the streets to protest an unpleasant policy; it is, however, a validation of the masses’ discomfort in having to carry the burden of economic policies they consider as insensitive to their plight.
