Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Community Engagement , Abdullahi Yakassai, has stated that nobody is afraid of peaceful protests, but some want to hijack them to destabilise the economy over election loss.
Yakassai said this while speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday night about the federal government appeal to the mass youth protest.
Addressing the issue of protests, he urged caution against those who might hijack peaceful demonstrations for destabilising the economy. “Nobody is afraid of peaceful protests, but what we are saying is that some people want to hijack these protests so they can destabilise the economy maybe because they lost an election or something,” he warned. “In the course of these protests, some people are hiding behind them maybe because they feel the president had started on a good foot. These people are opposition.”
He further spoke on the futility of violence in achieving what peace could not, urging Nigerians to allow the government to continue its reforms. “What peace did not bring, violence will never bring it either. Let’s allow the government of his excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Asiwaju to continue with its reforms,” Yakassai appealed.
He stated that President Tinubu has only been in office for one year and has already initiated numerous programs that will yield positive results over time. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is just one year in office. He has taken the bull by the horn through programs and policies he has initiated which would manifest over time. It’s too early, that’s why we are saying people should wait and be patient because some of the programs will come to fruition after a little while.”
Regarding concerns about hunger in the land, Yakassai highlighted the efforts made by the Tinubu administration to ensure food security. “People are saying there is hunger in the land, yes we know there is hunger in the land but have people gotten to know what Mr. President is doing in terms of providing food security in the nation? When he came initially after the subsidy, he gave the state governors funding to trickle down whatever challenges we have in terms of food security,” he explained.
Yakassai pointed to significant achievements in the agricultural sector, citing the cultivation of over 100,000 hectares of wheat and the support of over 100 farmers, resulting in an economic boost worth 309 billion naira. “On dry farming season alone, Nigeria has cultivated over 100,000 hectares of wheat. They have supported over 100 farmers and it resulted in over 400 metric tons of wheat which worth is estimated at 309 billion naira to add to the economy,” he elaborated.
Additionally, he mentioned recent directives by President Tinubu to enhance food distribution across the country. “Just recently Mr. President directed the minister of information that each state governor has gotten 20 trucks of grains to distribute to the people and communities. These are all programs of Mr. President in terms of food security,” he noted.
Highlighting the administration’s recent actions, Yakassai mentioned the opening of borders for grains and food commodities as a sign of positive changes to come. “Just recently last week, Mr. President said borders should be opened for grains, food commodities, these are all signs of things to come in the better perspective,” he said.
Yakassai acknowledged the presence of bad elements within protest organisations and cautioned Nigerians to be wary of them. “Everywhere there is protest there are some bad elements in the organisations. These bad eggs are what we are trying to caution Nigerians to be wary of,” he stated.
Enumerating the administration’s achievements, he listed the upgrades in judicial workers’ remuneration, the provision of N70,000 stipends to health workers and civil servants, student loans, and significant financial support for youth and small-scale businesses.
“Judicial workers’ remuneration has been upgraded, health workers, civil servants have gotten N70,000, they said they are comfortable, the students have gotten student loans, youth have N110 billion scheme, there is 100 billion for small-scale business. Which sector has Mr. President in one year not supported?” he asked.
Yakassai assured that the impact of these policies is already being felt, with 15 million people receiving stipends from the government and continued financial provisions for school feeding.
“15 million people are getting stipends from the government and it will be going as the country is getting more money. There is also 100 billion in the budget for school feeding. So children, lecturers, students have been touched,” he highlighted.
Concluding his remarks, Yakassai reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to performance and accountability among ministers. “Mr. President has said since day one that all the ministers have signed a performance point that if you’re not performing you might be kicked out. If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Asiwaju says something, he means it,” Yakassai affirmed.
NANCY MBAMALU
Follow us on:
