Lagos State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on its members not to stay away from their offices during the period marked for protest.
Its chairperson Mrs. Funmi Sessi said the organisers should stay away from Lagos and go to their respective states to stage their protests.
Sessi added that decision of the congress was informed by intelligence report that some miscreants were planning to disturb the movements of innocent citizens in the state.
She said: “The organisers should go to their own states to start this protest. They should not do that here in Lagos. These people are faceless. Why should they come to Lagos and cause havoc. They should go to their own and start it.
“Peaceful protest is part of the rights of all citizens, but protest characterized by threats, bloodshed and destructions of properties and lives of innocent citizens is unacceptable.”
She however called on governments to address the agitations of Nigerians.
Sessi called on the Lagos State government to allocate some farmlands to people and workers interested in farming.
Calls on the organisers of the protest to have a rethink and engage the Federal Government in dialogue gained more voices yesterday.
Top on the list of those that made the appeal were six governors, National Assembly leaders, ministers, and prominent Nigerians, including former Amabra State Governor Peter Obi.
While House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abass said he would hold a town hall meeting with youths on Wednesday, one of the governors.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Deputy House of Representatives Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, reeled out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s actions and plans that would not make people, especially in the Northwest and Southeast to join the protest tagged #EndBadGovernace.
Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti warned against breach of the law by the would- be protesters.
Obi, who said anyone who desires to protest must do so “within the law and in civil manner,” added that the hardship in the country did not start today.
Speaker Abbas
Speaker Abbas said his town hall meeting with youths at the National Assembly on Wednesday was in line with the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House which prioritises sustained youth engagement.
He explained in a statement by his media adviser, Musa Krishi that the talks was in conjunction with the YIAGA Africa and the Konrad Adenuer Stiftung (KAS).
The meeting will be attended by youth leaders and representatives of student unions, young professionals and entrepreneurs CSOs focused on youth development as well as members of the House Committees on Youth Affairs; and Youths in Parliament.
Krishi said the meeting would enable young Nigerians to voice their concerns, share their ideas, and engage with legislative leaders on matters affecting them.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin warned that the demonstration could destabilise Nigeria’s peace.
He argued that there was no need for the protest since President Tinubu was working to address the nation’s challenges.
Barau noted that significant measures such as the Northwest and Southeast Development Commissions Bills have already been introduced to tackle regional issues.
He pointed out that progress required patience and urged the public to support government’s efforts rather than resorting to protests.
Deputy Speaker Kalu
Deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu said the Southeast has every reason to be grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for listening to their 54- year- old cry and giving them the South East Development Commission by signing the establishment bill into law.
Kalu, in a statement by his media aide, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said President Tinubu was already addressing the challenges of the Southeast, especially with his assent to South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill.
He said: “There is hunger in the land and people are agitating but my brothers, I want you(youths) to be the advocates that will go to the villages and tell people to calm down, a solution is coming.
Kalu also said that efforts were on for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He argued that the only way to reciprocate Tinubu’s kind gestures to Ndi Igbo was to sustain the peace and reject to call to join the looming protest.
“There is a saying that when you appreciate your benefactor, he does more for you. Our next plea is that the President will release our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“Those who are organising the protest don’t know the extent it will get to. They only know how to commence it. Don’t start what you cannot control. It’s your right, yes, but what about the right of the other person? It’s your constitutional right but make sure you don’t breach the right of the other.’’
More governors urge dialogue
Governors Ademola Adeleke(Osun), Dapo Abiodun(Ogun), Alex Otti(Abia), Umo Eno(Akwa Ibom), Hyacinth Alia(Benue), Abdullahi Sule(Nasarawa) and Acting Governor of Katsina State Farouk Jobe warned that the demonstration was unnecessary given efforts by the President and their administrations to ameliorate the economic hardship faced by Nigerians.
Adeleke meets students, CSOs, security agents
Governor Adeleke will today meet with student union leaders security chiefs, and heads of CSOs in the state
Spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, made this known in a statement yesterday.
The statement quoted the governor as saying: “I have instructed my team to organise a dialogue session on Monday (today) where stakeholders can jaw-jaw as part of peace-making in the exercise of constitutional rights. The session will allow parties to list grievances and what they expect the government at all levels to do.
“We will convey the outcomes of the session to government leaders from myself to Mr President in Abuja. It will also be an opportunity to tell stakeholders what we are doing as a government to resolve the economic hardship facing our people.”
Adeleke reaffirmed his support for the rights and liberties of persons as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution to be obeyed.
“There is a need for peace and non-violent actions which are key to the dialogue sessions slated for Monday(today).
“We will listen and we will act in the best interest of the citizenry.”
Abiodun to youths: don’t be used by frustrated politicians
Governor Abiodun repeated his advice to youths against being used by frustrated politicians.
Abiodun said there was no need for the protest as there was room for youths to dialogue with the government constructively.
He spoke at the 22nd undergraduate and 13th postgraduate convocation of Babcock University, Ilishan, Ikenne Local Government Area.
The governor said: “Which investor will be attracted to a nation that is under siege by protesters? Please, do not allow yourselves to be used by a so-called leaderless movement, sponsored by frustrated politicians who tried in the past and lost. We do not need protests. We must not gamble with our democracy.
“I seize this opportunity to appeal to our youths to constructively engage with government in finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s problems, rather than engaging in protest that may start peacefully but usually get hijacked and may lead to anarchy.’’
Otti expresses concern
Governor Otti expressed worry that the protest might be taken over by unpatriotic elements to create more problems for the people.
He spoke with reporters in his country home at Umuehim Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area after a private meeting with Obi.
“But the real challenge is who can ensure or assure us that it will be done within the ambits of the law. We have seen protests hijacked. My fears are that this one will also be hijacked.
“Even when you write a letter, it is a protest. You can sit down and write a letter of protest, you can call somebody and register your displeasure about what he is doing or how he is running government.
“They are all protesting and they are allowed. But when you now go outside the law and begin to unleash mayhem and violence that is where it is not acceptable.”
Sule: No need for demonstration in Nasarawa
Governor Sule said there was no need for the protest in Nasarawa State because of his efforts and Tinubu’s various interventions to minimise the economic challenges facing the residents.
Sule said: “In reality, every time we have the opportunity, we give to the people, we share palliatives to the people. We are sharing Kudin A.A Sule every month. We have been promoting agriculture.
“We are promoting employment, we are doing everything that a serious administration could do to reduce the hardship on the people.”
Eno says protest not in nation’s interest
Also, Governor Eno said the protest planners should seek peaceful options to present their grievances rather than engage in acts that could lead to a breach of the peace in the country.
He said: “It is true that protest is the right of the people, but we appeal to our people to give peace a chance.
“We should all work together to promote national peace, unity, sustainable development, and stability. We have no other country.
“We must be united in tackling the prevailing economic hardship in the country, we shouldn’t indulge in any act that will worsen the situation.
“Any protest can be hijacked by hoodlums, and there are usually negative consequences because those who see nothing good about government will use it to destroy public assets,”
Cancel strike, says Alia
Benue State Governor Alia called on unions, groups, and individuals intending to join the protest to shelve the idea and bring their demands to him.
Alia, in his brief remarks after a service at the Chapel of Grace, Government House Makurdi, said the demonstration should be canceled because the state and federal governments are doing their best to put smiles on the faces of the people.
The governor revealed that his government uncovered plots by some individuals to infiltrate the protest and cause destruction.
Regime change plot treasonable, says Olawepo-Hashim
Former presidential candidate and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Mr. Gbenga Hashim has warned those calling for regime change under the guise of protests, to be wary of being charged for treason.
He argued that the right to protest by any group of Nigerians or individuals concerning any situation is an essential part of citizens freedom of expression provided for in the Constitution in so far as such rights are expressed peacefully without infringing on the rights of others.
In a statement by his media department, Hashim maintained that there “are legitimate grounds for Nigeria people to protest the prevailing economic situation and myriad of challenges not currently satisfactorily addressed, Nigerians did protest in robust manners even under military rule.”
He said that “what government needs to do is to address the issues with utmost sincerity it is time for an honest introspection.”
Ministers urge support for Tinubu’s policies
Some ministers urged Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda and shun the nationwide protest.
Minister of Education, Prof Mamman Tahir, spoke on the achievements of President Tinubu’s administration at a town hall meeting in Yola yesterday.
Tahir emphasised the critical advancements Tinubu has brought to the country, underscoring that the president deserves appreciation and support rather than opposition.
“The government has within this short period done so much,” Tahir stated, enumerating the introduction of a student loan scheme, an increase in the minimum wage, and the creation of a consumer credit scheme as pivotal milestones.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo urged Nigerians to back Tinubu’s efforts to resolve the nation’s issues, praising the President’s boldness and dedication.
“President Tinubu is quite aware of the current plights of Nigerians and he is working tirelessly and meticulously to resolve them,” Tunji-Ojo said in a statement from Abuja.
He called for collective resilience and patriotism, highlighting that national strength lies in unity.
Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo appealed to displeased Nigerians to give the President more time to address the country’s economic woes.
The minister, who was a guest on a national television programme , appealed to intending participants of the August protest to be patriotic.
He said Tinubu should not be judged with the expectation to solve a 100-year-old problem in one year.
He said an economy is not built overnight. “What you see today is an accumulated mismanagement over the last 100, 60, 30 years” .
Tunji-Ojo said: “Mr President, to the best of my knowledge, never campaigned to be a magician; he campaigned as a statesman, he campaigned on the basis of ‘Renewed Hope’. Before hope could be renewed, it had dwindled.’’
In Kaduna, Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, appealed specifically to Northern youths to abandon plans for protest, emphasizing their crucial role in national development.
He outlined Tinubu’s achievements, including the approval of an increased minimum wage and the signing of the North West Development Commission Bill, which he described as pivotal for regional growth.
“The proposed strike, while a reflection of genuine grievances, could hinder the progress and stability we are collectively striving for,” Goronyo cautioned.
Dr Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said that the Tinubu administration deserves more support than recrimination from Nigerians.
This is contained in a statement by Dapo Okubanjo, head of Media, All Progressives Congress (APC) Professionals Forum, yesterday in Abuja.
Pate spoke when he received a delegation of the forum led by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT), Dr Isa Yuguda.
The statement quoted Pate as describing a protest against the Tinubu-led administration as “a protest against Nigeria’s health sector”.
This, he said, was because the Tinubu administration was systematically cleaning up decades of rot in the sector.
Obi to protesters: it’s illegal to prevent others’ movements
Obi warned the organisers of the demonstration to understand that blocking movements during protests constitutes a breach of the law.
He said: I plead to those who want to protest to do so within the law and in civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live within the law.
“Everybody knows that things are difficult and I always say that when they talk about the sponsors of protest, the sponsors are very simple, it is hunger, it is hopelessness among the youth .’’
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