In anticipation of the nationwide protest, the All Progressives Congress has urged parents to keep a close eye on their children’s movements to prevent them from being lured into participating in any acts of violence.
This caution follows the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s warning on Tuesday that security forces will take swift action against any violence during the planned protest.
The scheduled protest, set to take place from August 1 to 10, has stirred up mixed reactions and tensions across Nigeria.
Various groups advocating for the protest have cited rising living costs and economic hardships in the country as the driving force behind their actions.
During a press briefing after the 153rd National Working Committee meeting, the National Secretary of APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, disclosed that the ruling party, in alignment with the President, is appealing to protest organizers to reconsider their plans and trust that the Federal Government will address the economic challenges facing the nation.
Basiru also advised Nigerians to ensure their children’s activities are monitored to prevent them from getting entangled in unlawful activities.
He mentioned, “Since assuming office in 2023, the government has faced numerous challenges, especially economic ones, and the President is gradually implementing policies that will bring relief to the citizens in the near future.
“The NWC acknowledged that some of the issues raised by protesters are political, while others are constitutional matters that can only be resolved through ongoing constitutional amendments at the National Assembly.
“We, therefore, encourage all protest planners to trust in the President’s relentless efforts to revitalize the economy and assure Nigerians that these challenges will be overcome in due course.
“The meeting urged parents and responsible citizens to keep an eye on their children to prevent them from contributing to unrest in the country.”
Furthermore, the national secretary announced that an urgent meeting of all APC Chairpersons from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory has been convened for further deliberations.
While the date was not explicitly stated, information from PUNCH Online revealed that state party leaders would gather at the secretariat on Friday to meet with the APC leadership.
This was corroborated by the National Deputy Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, during an exclusive phone conversation with our reporter.
Duru revealed that the protest was not the sole focus of the meeting, stating, “Yes, the meeting is set for Friday, addressing various issues including the protest and the state of the nation.”