President Bola Tinubu has called on young Nigerians to refrain from participating in planned protests against the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
Recall that some Nigerians, particularly the youth, have planned a nationwide protest from August 1st to 10th to draw the government’s attention to the prevailing hardship in the country.
Speaking in Abuja at the National Council of Traditional Rulers meeting, Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), George Akume, cautioned against allowing economic hardship to be exploited by individuals with ulterior motives to incite protests.
He emphasised the need for patience and commitment from Nigerians during this critical period of economic reform, urging citizens to remember past instances where crisis threatened national peace and diversity.
Tinubu highlighted the lessons to be learned from India and Sudan’s experiences, noting that Nigeria, with its population of over 200 million, cannot afford such instability.
The President assured that the government has implemented policies to alleviate economic challenges, including procuring Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, introducing a student loan scheme, distributing palliatives, and providing agricultural inputs such as tractors and fertilisers.
He also emphasised on-going efforts to address security issues in the country. Tinubu urged traditional leaders to promote peace within their communities and engage with young people and parents to foster harmony.
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Sa’ad Abubakar III, supported this view, advocating dialogue as the best means to resolve conflicts and highlighting the necessity of peace.
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan, stressed the importance of patriotism and national cohesion for development, asserting that any threat to unity must be resisted.
He acknowledged President Tinubu’s efforts to address the nation’s challenges and reiterated that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens.
The Presidency in the same vein, also raised a fresh alarm over alleged plots to destabilise the country, warning of “forces of evil” bent on causing chaos and destruction.
In a statement on social media, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, accused those behind the plots of spreading falsehoods and attempting to discredit Government officials.
Recall that a 10-day protest is planned to begin on August 1st, with Nigerians expected to take to the streets to demand better living conditions and an end to economic hardship.
