An emergency meeting has been scheduled by the Federal Government for Wednesday morning in response to a nationwide protest planned for August 1.
President Bola Tinubu has urged the organizers to postpone the protests and allow his administration more time to implement programs beneficial to the people.
A circular shared with NewsNow by informed sources on Tuesday indicated that the meeting would be attended by all ministers, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, and Special Advisers including Hadiza Bala-Usman, Bayo Onanuga, and Sunday Dare.
The circular, dated July 23, 2024, and signed by Richard Pheelangwah, the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Affairs Office, was focused on the ‘Planned Nationwide Protest.’
The meeting is being held amidst growing calls for nationwide protests starting from August 1 due to the increased cost of living and economic difficulties attributed to policy changes under the Tinubu administration.
The planned protests, inspired by recent demonstrations in Kenya, have gained momentum on social media with hashtags like ‘EndBadGovernance,’ ‘TinubuMustGo,’ and ‘#Revolution2024’ trending.
Despite the calls for protests, the Presidency and police authorities have advised against it, deeming it unwise.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, conveyed the President’s message to Nigerians during a press briefing after a meeting with Tinubu.
The Minister emphasized the President’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by the protesters for a better future for Nigeria.
Peaceful protests are a constitutional right acknowledged by the Force, but it is crucial to prevent them from turning violent or causing disorder to avoid the dire consequences of past incidents of violence in the nation. The aftermath of the #EndSars protest resulted in the destruction of public assets and loss of lives, instead of the intended positive outcome, exacerbating crime rates and insecurity. The nation is still recovering from the economic losses and emotional trauma inflicted by these protests, emphasizing the need to prioritize the protection of citizens and their properties. The Force emphasizes that violent protests should be abandoned as they threaten the peace of communities and jeopardize critical national infrastructure and assets. The Inspector General assures that measures are in place to apprehend any individuals attempting to incite violence under the guise of protests. Egbetokun’s Warning Egbetokun warns against individuals or groups attempting to instigate terror and anarchy, emphasizing the consequences for those resorting to violence. Special Adviser Bayo Onanuga criticizes calls for nationwide protests as treasonable, accusing certain political figures of being behind the planned protests and labeling them as anarchists. The Labour Party denies involvement in the planned protests, condemning attempts to link them to the demonstrations and emphasizing the importance of allowing peaceful demonstrations as a democratic right. LP’s Stance Against Violence The Labour Party clarifies that they do not support violent protests but advocate for peaceful demonstrations as a fundamental aspect of democratic expression, urging against any form of violence from any party. Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the PDP defend the constitutional right to peaceful protests and criticize any attempts to suppress these rights, calling on the government to safeguard citizens’ rights. The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader highlights the protests as a response to governance issues and urges against restricting the youth’s right to protest. Various political figures have differing views on the planned protests, with some warning against participation, while others emphasize the importance of peaceful demonstration as a democratic right. Ultimately, the call is for a balance between expressing grievances through peaceful means and maintaining law and order to prevent further violence and instability in the nation.