President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerian youths to cancel their planned protest and await the government’s response to their concerns.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, shared this with State House correspondents following a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He emphasized that the president is attentive to the voices of young Nigerians and is diligently addressing their grievances.
“The President listens to them, especially the young people planning to protest,” the minister stated. “He takes their concerns seriously and is working assiduously to ensure the country is better, not just for today but also for the future. Mr. President does not see any need for the planned protest and has asked them to await the government’s response to their pleas.”
The minister highlighted recent developments demonstrating the government’s commitment to addressing national issues, such as the National Assembly’s swift passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill, distribution of grains and rice to state governments to alleviate food insecurity, the launch of a student loan program, and plans for a post-NYSC support scheme for unemployed graduates. He stressed that these initiatives are part of Tinubu’s broader vision for an inclusive government.
Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun warned that the proposed protest is ill-advised and should be abandoned. Speaking at a strategic meeting with top police management in Abuja, he stated that the protest aims to replicate recent events in Kenya, which is not in Nigerians’ best interest. He assured that the Nigeria Police Force will uphold the right to peaceful protest while maintaining order and protecting life and property.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Bennett Igweh, urged residents not to participate in the protest, emphasizing that it could jeopardize security efforts and lead to unrest. He highlighted the government’s measures to address economic challenges and called for residents’ cooperation in maintaining peace and stability.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) advised Nigerians to direct their frustrations at state governors and local government chairmen, stating that President Tinubu has provided adequate resources for state and grassroots leaders. APC Caretaker Committee Chairman for Rivers State, Tony Okocha, urged Nigerians to hold local leaders accountable for the present hardships and emphasized that the removal of the fuel subsidy has brought more funds into the system.
Additionally, the Former National Association of Nigeria Students Leaders’ Forum called for targeted policies to address inflation and economic instability. They highlighted the need for consistent, transparent policies, improved infrastructure, and security to boost agricultural yield and industrialization. The forum expressed support for certain government policies while raising concerns about the impacts of fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification on inflation and poverty.
In a separate development, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has demanded a retraction and apology from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the President, over allegations linking him to the planned mass protest. Obi threatened a N5 billion lawsuit for defamation if Onanuga fails to meet his demands.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also weighed in, cautioning against the suppression of peaceful protests and emphasizing that such rights are constitutionally guaranteed. He criticized the current administration’s handling of the situation, drawing attention to the irony that those now stifling protests had led similar actions in the past.
(Leadership)