No to planned protest similar to #EndSARS, governors warn – The Nation Newspaper

•Governor Abiodun with the youths in Abeokuta…yesterday

• ‘Don’t overheat the polity’
• Oba of Benin: give govt more time

Governors yesterday led in cautioning protest promoters, saying there will be no room for a repeat of the 2020 #EndSARS which wreaked havoc on many cities.

Although they acknowledged the freedom to protest, the governors said it must be peaceful.

Governors Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Lucky Aiyedatiwa (Ondo) and Duoye Diri (Bayelsa) spoke at different occasions.

Southeast governors spoke in unison against the planned protest through their chairman, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Oba of Benin Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and chairmen of local governments in Lagos State, among others, also cautioned against violent protest.

For the second time in 48 hours, Informational and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris explained why promoters of the protest should shelve the idea.

Yesterday, a high-level meeting at the Aso Villa seat of power attended by Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Defence Minister Abubakar Badaru was held on the likely breach of national security, it was learnt.

On Monday, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun underscored the need to keep the peace if a protest must be staged by any group.

He warned that violence will not be tolerated because the police will protect national assets.

The 2020 #EndSARS protest was initiated by youths to campaign against the brutality of the police outfit Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The protest turned violent, leading to killings, looting, and destruction of public and private property and national assets.

Hundreds of millions of naira worth of properties were destroyed.

Abiodun, who met with a coalition of youth organisations in Abeokuta, the state capital, appealed to them to constructively engage the government in finding lasting solutions to national problems instead of embarking on protests. 

He said: “There are calls for mass protests across the country and the first thing that agitates one’s mind is: is that the way to present our case to government?

“Is that the way to constructively and objectively engage with the government by advertising and planning mass protests?

“Is there something behind those who are calling for these protests? Is this another plan by those who have tried their luck and have lost? Is this their own way and shortcut to see how to frustrate the government?

“Young men and women, you have no other country than this country. I am sure, like many of you, there is no country in the world where you can walk like your own, except in Nigeria. 

“There is a Yoruba proverb that says ‘beheading is not the solution for a headache’. If there are issues, let us discuss them, let us find a way around them, and let us manage and correct them. Let us not cut off the head or attempt to cut off the head because of a headache. That will amount to decapitation.” 

Abiodun urged the youths to become solution centres by bringing in their vibrancy and ingenuity in resolving national challenges.

Aiyedatiwa emphasised the importance of constructive engagement and dialogue in addressing the challenges.

He appealed to the youth, especially students, to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu more time to address their complaints.

The governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Affairs, Kevin Olaolu, said: “We urge all students to support the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to bring about positive change and development in our country.

“In the spirit of unity and progress, we call for peace among all Nigerian students and emphasise the importance of constructive engagement and dialogue in addressing our challenges.”

In Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, Diri advised youths to avoid being used by disgruntled politicians to cause trouble in the name of demonstration.

The governor, who commended Bayelsa youths for their peaceful conduct during the #EndSARS protest, called for vigilance by security agencies,  council chairmen and traditional rulers to avert any eventuality.

At a meeting with leaders of  Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Diri said:  “I like to call on you again to remember the #EndSARS protest and be disciplined and keep our state safe.

“We are getting reports about some politicians that lost elections and want to use the protest to cause havoc. We will not accept that in Bayelsa State.

“Every local government chairman and every king in their domains have to be vigilant.

“We are a state that needs development and we should not allow anybody to thwart the developmental efforts of our state.”

Southeast governors oppose protest, says Uzodimma

Uzodimma said while a protest is legitimate in a democratic setting, the proposed action is questionable because the motive of the faceless organisers is unknown.

He said the protests could worsen the economic hardship caused by the global recession and heat the polity. 

Uzodimma advised the organisers to embrace dialogue instead of insisting on protest.

He said: “Democracy is about the opinion of the people and the protest is allowed in a democratic setting.  Every protest must be reasonably conceived to be able to make political sense.

“I think it’s too early at this time in the life of this government for anybody to come out to say he wants to protest.

“First of all, there has not been any engagement where those who are sponsoring the protest were able to tell us the reasons for the protests.

“Secondly, given the global situation today and the insecurity in the country, we have a very fragile political environment that if not managed and protected very well, it may collapse the entire country.

“Those who are going to protest, what is the reason for the protests, and if they have no reason for the protests, I think our advice is that well-meaning Nigerians, citizens of this country should  guide our country very jealously.”

He added: “I think it is a wrong time for anybody to do any protest because the implication of doing that, if care is not taken, is that it may be hijacked, like the #EndSARS experience where criminals hijacked an innocently conceived agitation by young Nigerians.

“This is another kind of temptation. Those behind the protest have not come out openly to say they’re behind it. There is a motive that is yet to be unravelled.

“I think that we are not in support of the protest. We are not going to support any protest that has no programme, that is not discussed, that nobody knows what the problem is.

“If you are protesting, what do you want the government to do? Because the reason for protests is that they want an issue to be addressed. What are the issues?

“In my view, I think there is no need to overheat the polity, overheat our environment and put our people in a position where the hardship that is occasioned by economic recession all over the world is further worsened. So, I advise against the protests.”

Oba of Benin calls for peace

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, called on aggrieved organisers to shelve their plan.

The monarch, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro, pleaded with the organisers to give the Federal Government enough time to implement its economic policies.

The Oba of Benin said for things to get better, it had to be tough for a while, urging President Tinubu to intensify efforts in the implementation of his economic and security policies.

President against violence,  says Idris

Information Minister Idris, who received leaders of the Charismatic Bishop Conference in Abuja, said President Tinubu is against violent protest.Related News

He said: “The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in the freedom of everyone within the confine 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 negatively hamper the well-being 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.

“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.”

Idris said President Tinubu is fully aware of the genuine concerns and complaints of peace-loving people across the nation.

He also assured that the president is actively working to implement effective policies aimed at resolving the challenges and bringing relief to all Nigerians.

The minister said because the President is committed to the welfare of workers, he sustained his engagement with the Organised Labour after the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage concluded its assignment and submitted its report.

He said the engagement gave birth to the N70,000 national minimum wage.

Idris described the introduction of the Compressed National Gas (CNG) policy by the President as a game changer in the 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.

The minister said henceforth, any government procurement of vehicles or machinery must have a component of CNG embedded in the contracts.

He also alluded to the improvement in the security situation in the country, saying that since the advent of the Tinubu Administration, peace had returned to many troubled spots.

Fed govt appeals for calm, peace

The Federal Government appealed to citizens planning the protest to give President Tinubu and his ministers time as they are working to change the situation.

Idris made the appeal after an emergency meeting of members of the Federal Executive Council called yesterday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, at his office in Abuja.

The minister stressed that everyone is entitled to their opinion in a democracy, but urged protesters to be patient and give the government time to address their concerns.

He assured that President Tinubu was working tirelessly and that all hands were on deck to ensure that the government’s efforts benefit all Nigerians.

The minister reiterated the President’s message, urging Nigerians to calm down and give him more time to address their pleas.

“The protesters are also Nigerians. This is a democratic situation. What I keep saying is that we’re all Nigerians and we’re all acting in the interest of Nigeria, but suffice it to say that Mr President said there’s 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’s a need for any protest. We’re appealing for calm. We’re 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 the government is insisting that we’re 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.

“Like I said yesterday (Tuesday), everyone is listening; we’re all listening, the President is listening and he has a message for all Nigerians, that message is that they should all calm down, they should please give the man more time. Everything they ask for, all their pleas will be answered.

“No one is going to sleep. Those who are agitating and asking for protest are Nigerians, they’re our brothers and sisters, they’re all Nigerians and those in positions of authority – the ministers, the President, everybody, we’re 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.”

Asked if the government has been engaging with leaders of the planned protest, Idris said: “Engagement has always been an ongoing thing, this is not a peculiar situation, engagement has been ongoing.

“The President has met severally with all key stakeholders. I have also been meeting with stakeholders, other functionaries have also been meeting with other key stakeholders.

“Engagement is going to continue and in the interest of Nigeria, we will continue to engage.”

Bishops reject protest invitation

The President-General of the Charismatic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Leonard Kawas, dissociated the conference from the protest.

Addressing Idris during the visit, he said the conference had been approached by some groups to join the protest, but the request was declined.

Archbishop Kawas said: “We received some calls from some religious and other organisations asking us to join in preparation for a nationwide protest, which would start from 1st August.

“We do not think the same. 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, should give us some time while we continue to communicate and negotiate with this government on areas that are pertinent to them.”

Protest will not be tolerated, Lagos council chairmen warn

The Conference 57, a group comprised of the 57 development council chairmen in Lagos State, urged residents to shun the protest.

It warned that the state would ‘’not tolerate any form of protest.’’ 

“We appeal to all Lagosians to not allow themselves to be used for any planned protest. All the local governments in Lagos state will not tolerate any form of protest.

“We appeal to the organisers of the planned protest to reconsider their approach,” the group’s Chairman, Kolade Alabi, said.

Alabi, who is the Bariga Council chairman, advocated demonstrations based on taking to the ballot rather than protests.

He emphasised that electoral processes offer a more constructive and legitimate means of expressing grievances and driving change.

Tinubu is up and doing, says APC

National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) urged the organisers to shelve their plan and have confidence in the government’s ability to reposition the country for excellence.

It also appealed to parents and well-meaning Nigerians not to allow  their children and wards to be used for violence

APC National Secretary Dr. Ajibola Basiru, who spoke with reporters after the NWC meeting, said the committee joined President Tinubu in appealing to the organisers.

Basiru said despite the economic challenges he inherited, President Tinubu is implementing programmes and policies that would shortly bring succour and relief to Nigerians.

He said the world is yet to fully recover from the post-Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine/Russian war and the conflict between the Israelis and the Hamas in Gaza, stressing that these crises have effects on the global economy.

Basiru said some of the political and constitutional demands of the organisers can only be addressed through a constitutional amendment by the National Assembly.

Ethnic, political groups, VC reject protest

Others who urged caution by youths included the Adamawa State chapter of the APC, the Arewa Youth Assembly Arewa Think Tank, Urhobo Progress Union(UPU) Youth Wing, Northeast Youth Ambassadors, the Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), former spokesperson for Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Daniel Bwala; Vice-Chancellor of Salem University Lokoja Alewo Johnson-Akubo and an Egba High Chief Oluyinka Kufile.