Planned protest: We will continue to engage in your interest, give us time – FG begs Nigerians
…No one is going to sleep, we are all working for Nigeria – Minister
…APC urges protesters to shelve plans, says Tinubu not cause of economic hardship
…Uzodimma warns against protests, says it’s too early to judge Tinubu’s Govt
By Sodiq Adelakun
As Nigerians prepare for a planned nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 over economic hardship, the Federal Government has continued to appeal for calm, begging citizens to stay calm and give more time as it continues to engage in their interest, promising to address the country’s economic challenges.
In a passionate plea, the government begged Nigerians to allow it to work towards finding solutions to the economic hardships facing the country, assuring that it is committed to making life better for all citizens
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja after a Federal Executive Council meeting convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Idris reassured that the government is committed to resolving all issues in a manner that ensures peace and stability across the country, acknowledging the legitimate concerns of citizens.
He emphasised that the administration is focused on implementing solutions to mitigate the hardships, stressing that dialogue and patience are essential during this period of economic transition.
Idris, after the closed-door meeting, while addressing journalists, said, “We came together to discuss. You can see that this is not happening at the Council Chambers, it’s happening at the office of the SGF, and many of the ministers are here. We have discussed issues of national interest, and all of us are working for Nigeria and we hope and believe that Nigeria is going to be great again.
“No one is going to sleep. Those who are agitating and asking for protests are Nigerians, and they are our brothers, they are our sisters, they are all Nigerians and those in positions of authority; the ministers, the President, everybody, we are all Nigerians too. So, this is a family matter. This is a Nigerian family issue, and all of us are looking at this issue very well and we hope that peace will prevail at the end of the day.”
Asked whether the government has been engaging with the stakeholders and organisers of the planned protest, Idris said engagement has always been an ongoing thing.
“This is not a peculiar situation. Engagement has been ongoing. The President has met severally with all key stakeholders. I have also been meeting with stakeholders, and other government functionaries have also been meeting with other key stakeholders.
“Engagement is going to continue and in the interest of Nigeria, we will continue to engage. We know this is the only country that all of us have, and at the end of the day, Nigeria is going to be better for all of us,” he stated.
On the alleged insistence by some top Nigerians, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Femi Falana, that the protests must go on, Idris said the senior lawyer was entitled to his opinion in a democracy.
“He (Falana) is an individual. This is a democracy, and everyone is entitled to his opinion. The protesters are also Nigerians, and this is a democratic situation. What I keep saying is that we are all Nigerians and we are all acting in the interest of Nigeria, but suffice to say that yesterday, Mr President said there is no need for any protest, let us calm down.
“A lot is happening, Nigeria is going to move and march on, and we believe that whatever government comes out with will be in the interest of Nigeria. We don’t think that there is a need for any protest, we are appealing for calm, we are appealing for a peaceful resolution or a peaceful approach to any issue.
“If you have anything that you want to put out there, you are free to put it out there, but the government is insisting that we are all Nigerians; we have to be calm, we have to be patient and suffice it to say that let us give peace a chance. Mr President is working round the clock, his ministers are working, everyone is working, all hands are on deck.
“Like I said yesterday, everyone is listening; we are all listening; the President is listening, and he has a message for all Nigerians; that message is that they should all calm down; they should please give the man more time. Everything they asked for, all their pleas will be answered,” he added.
The meeting was a veritable who’s who of Nigeria’s political heavyweights, with Nyesom Wike (FCT), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), and Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties). Also present were Tahir Mamman (Education) and Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Planning), Wale Edun (Finance), Mohammed Idris (Information), Bello Matawalle (Defence), David Umahi (Works), and National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.
…APC urges protesters to shelve plans, says Tinubu not cause of economic hardship
In a related development, The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to the masterminds of the scheduled protest to shelve plans, saying President Bola Tinubu met several challenges, especially economic challenges, and is gradually implementing programmes and policies that would bring succour and relief to the citizens.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to the masterminds of the scheduled protest to shelve their plans, saying President Bola Tinubu met several challenges, especially economic challenges, and is gradually implementing programmes and policies that would bring succour and relief to the citizens.
Addressing journalists shortly after the APC National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held on Wednesday, the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, said: “The APC at its 153rd NWC meeting has joined the President to passionately appeal to those who are planning protests to shelve their plans and have confidence and belief in the government to address most of the economic challenges facing the nation.”
Basiru noted that the present administration met a lot of challenges upon assumption of office and was making conscious efforts to surmount them.
“The NWC also noted that since coming on board in 2023, the Government met quite a number of challenges, especially economic challenges, and Mr President is gradually implementing programmes and policies that would in the nearest future, bring succour and relief to the citizens,” he said.
He added that most of the economic challenges are global issues, and can only be addressed after thorough brain-storming. “The NWC also noted that some of the issues highlighted by the protestants are political, while others are constitutional matters that can only be addressed through the amendment of the constitution, which is on-going at the National Assembly,” he said.
…Uzodimma warns against protests, says it’s too early to judge Tinubu’s Govt
Also, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has cautioned against the planned protests, saying it’s too early to judge President Bola Tinubu’s government, which has just started implementing policies to address the country’s economic challenges.
Speaking to correspondents after presenting former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Uzodimma said: “Democracy is about the opinion of the people, and protest is allowed in a democratic setting. However, every protest must be reasonably conceived to make political sense.”
He noted that those behind the protests have not been able to clearly state their reasons for the action, adding that the political climate in the country is too fragile, and a protest may lead to its collapse if not well managed.
He also warned that the protests could be hijacked by criminals, citing the #EndSARS experience. “So, this is another kind of temptation that I think those behind the protests, because they have not been able to come out openly to say they’re behind it, there is a motive that is yet to be unravelled.”
