Shelve protest, Tinubu begs Nigerians
“The issue of the planned protest, Mr. President does not see any need for that. He asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await government’s response to all their pleas; he has listened to them”, Mr. Idris said.
The minister, who said a lot of efforts were being made by the government to address the situation, cited yesterday’s passage of the bill on the new minimum wage of N70,000 by the National Assembly.
“You can see how the president is working. The bill was transmitted only yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday), it has been passed. A lot of other interventions that the president has put in place are also going to be looked at expeditiously in the interest of Nigerians. So, there is no need for protest.
“The young people out there should listen to the president and allow the president more time to see to the realisation of all the goodies he has for them”, he added.
Highlighting other policies aimed at cushioning the effect of the hardship that Nigerians are facing, Mr. Idris said the government approved grains and rice for state governments, which was delivered to them.
“Like I said that time, it is just the necessary first step. Government is going to continue in that direction, supporting them and assuring that whatever intervention the federal government has put in place goes to those that should benefit; it is very important that is being put out.
“You heard about the student loan board launched by Mr. President; he is very passionate about that, deepening that everyone that should work will have the opportunity to go to school. It is no longer a time for all of us to stay back and see our young able-bodied men and women who have passed the examinations to go to tertiary institutions that have not been able to do that because their parents are not able to pay for their fees; this is a thing of the past.
“Government is very desirous to ensure that happens. You know that the provision that was made to the NELFUND already, we have in excess of what is required today, and the more people are requiring that, the more the president will also give.
“There is also the intervention the president is making for young men and women who have finished school, and who are yet to get employed, post-NYSC, for example. There is a scheme the government is perfecting and that will be pushed very fast so that all those young men and women who have finished school, graduates of universities and polytechnics that are not able to get jobs, they will continue to be supported by the government until such a time that those jobs are offered to them.
“The whole idea is that no one is left behind. Everybody will be in; it is an all-inclusive government and the president is determined to ensure that no one is left behind. This is an attempt to march Nigeria towards progress”, he said.
Violent protests illadvised — IGP
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday asked those planning the protest to jettison the idea, saying the Force would not fold its arms and watch them engage in violence.
He gave the warning at the Force headquarters in Abuja during a strategic meeting with top police officers from the rank of Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIG) and Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIG).
Egbetokun said the Force’s decision was based on what happened during the #EndSARS protest across the country.
He said: “Our position is that the proposed violent protests are ill-advised and should be jettisoned fortuitously. We have the responsibility to protect properties and everyone, irrespective of their race, colour, ethnicity, or tribe, who are lawfully embarking on their daily activities.
“We will, therefore, not sit back and fold our arms to watch some people to unleash violence on our peaceful communities or destroy any of our national critical infrastructure and assets again”, the IGP said.
He said, after running background checks on many of the organisers and sponsors of the protest, the police discovered that many of them were not living in Nigeria, and that they were only out to instigate a crisis in the country.
He added: “Before concluding this address, it is important I address an issue of urgent national importance, which appears to have gained some momentum, particularly on social media, in the past few weeks.
“Some groups of people, self-appointed crusaders and influencers, have been strategising and mobilising potential protesters to unleash terror in the land under the guise of replicating the recent Kenya protests.
“While the Force acknowledges the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in our Constitution, we must ensure that these protests do not snowball into violence or disorder.
“As a nation, we have had more than our fair share of violent protests, with rather dastardly consequences. The last #EndSARS protest led to onetenth destruction of public assets, including police stations, courts, and transport infrastructure, and the loss of several lives.
“Tales of sorrow, tears, and blood followed what was supposedly intended to be a wellintentioned exercise. Rather than lead to any positive outcome, EndSARS merely aggravated crime rates and insecurity in several parts of the country.
“Indeed, we are yet to fully recover from the huge economic losses and deep-seated psychological and emotional trauma inflicted upon our people by these protests”, he said.
Egbetokun said the Force had mapped out plans to ensure that no individual or group succeeds in fostering a reign of terror and anarchy on other law-abiding
Nigerians.
“Consequently, I want to seize this opportunity to sound the note of serious warning to hoodlums who may want to take laws into their own hands in the name of protests. Do not worry”, he advised.
Citizens have constitutional right to protest – Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised the federal government and its agencies for trying to abort the planned August 1 protest against the state of affairs in the country.
Atiku said it was ironic that those that protested against the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012 are the ones trying to stifle other people’s rights to protest.
In a post on his verified Facebook page yesterday, Atiku said it was the right of citizens to protest, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
He said a responsible government would ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful protest.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as altered) unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.
“Chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned protests is an exercise in futility when it is obvious that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling (All Progressives Congress) APC, are caught up in the hunger, anger, and hopelessness brought about by the incompetence and cluelessness of this government.
“Any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional, but a direct affront to our democracy,” Atiku said.