Nigeria’s federal government has warned that there would be dire consequences for the stability of the country if a nationwide protest being planned by some Nigerians goes ahead from the beginning of next month.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, met with ministers in his office behind closed doors to try to avert the protest.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammad Idris, issued the warning against the protest on Wednesday, when he received members of the Charismatic Bishops Conference, led by Archbishop (Professor) Leonard Kawas, who were on a courtesy visit to him, at his office in Abuja.
Idris said government was cautious and bothered about the protest against economic hardship, having seen the debilitating consequences of similar protests in other parts of the world, particularly in Kenya and Bangladesh.
The minister voiced concern that arsonists and criminals might be waiting to hijack the planned protest and unleash violence on innocent Nigerians.
Idris stated, “Why everybody is very cautious and very weary of this national protest is because we have seen what has happened around the world.
“We know that it’s almost impossible to hold this protest and then have peace at the end of the day. We cannot do that because some people are waiting to take the laws into their own hands.”
He said while the government of President Bola Tinubu acknowledged the right of every Nigerian to engage in protests, it was equally committed to ensuring that the activities did not disrupt public order or violate the rights of others.
According to him, “You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in the freedom of everyone within the confirms of the law to do what he thinks is right for him.
“Therefore, the president is not an opponent of protest of any kind. But the president is an opponent of violence and anything that will hamper the wellbeing of Nigerians.
“He believes and he has always been saying that within the tenets of democracy, you have every right to do whatever you want to do provided that right does not infringe on another person’s right.”
Idris asserted that Tinubu was fully aware of the feelings of Nigerians across the country and he was actively working to implement effective policies aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by the citizenry and bringing relief to all Nigerians.
The minister said one of the policies being fine-tuned by government was to begin to pay stipends to all young university and polytechnics graduates after the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, pending their formal employment.
He stated, “But beyond that, there is also another new policy that the president has formulated, which will begin to be seen very soon, and that is that all young men and women who have finished universities and polytechnics and have certificates and have done their mandatory NYSC, and have not been able to get jobs, will have something from the government to keep them afloat until the time they get jobs.”
He described the introduction of the Compressed National Gas (CNG) policy by the president as a game changer in the country’s economy because of its ability to bring down the cost of transportation by about 60 per cent, thereby providing a viable alternative to petrol and diesel.
Idris said, henceforth, any government procurement of vehicles or machinery must have a component of CNG embedded in the contracts.
Earlier, President General of the Charismatic Bishops Conference, dissociated the conference from the planned national protest, saying they have been inundated with calls by some groups to join the protest.
Kawas said, “Recently we received some calls from some other religious organisations and other organisations asking us to join in preparation for a nationwide protest, which would start from 1st August 2024.
“We are here to let you know that we do not think the same. That we have rather decided to go all out and call for a truce. We have decided to sue for peace and humbly request that our brothers and sisters, who are aggrieved in one way or the other, that they should give us some time while we continue to communicate and negotiate with this government on areas that are pertinent to them.”
He appealed to aggrieved Nigerians in all parts of the country to give peace a chance and toe the path of dialogue and negotiation because no reasonable government will fold its hands and allow violence to break down the country.
After the meeting with the SGF on Wednesday, Idris also spoke to journalists.
Ministers at the meeting were Tahir Mamman (Education); Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Planning); Wale Edun (Finance); Bello Matawalle (Defence); Nyesom Wike (Federal Capital Territory); Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs); and Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties); David Umahi (Works).
National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu also attended the meeting.
The information minister said the federal government was not sleeping and would handle the protest over economic hardship like a family affair to ensure the stability of the country.
He begged for more time from Nigerians to get to the root of the matter.
Idris 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.
“The planned protest is a family matter. All issues will be resolved in a way to ensure the peace and stability of the country. No one is going to sleep.
“Those who are agitating and asking for protests are Nigerians, 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.”
Idris also shared insights on human rights advocate and lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, who insisted that the planned protest was a constitutional right, saying Falana is entitled to his opinion in a democracy.
Idris said, “He (Falana) is an individual. This is a democracy; everyone is entitled to his opinion. The protesters are also Nigerians; 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 it 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 need for any protest, we are appealing for calm; we are appealing for a peaceful resolution or 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 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.”
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Michael Olugbode, Onyebuchi Ezigbo, Olawale Ajimotokan, Sunday Aborisade, Segun Awofadeji, John Shiklam, Sylvester Idowu and James Sowole
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