Protest: Give us more time, FG begs Nigerians

The Federal Government has assured that the issues prompting the proposed nationwide protest will be resolved to ensure peace and stability in the country.

Some groups and individuals had been mobilising for nationwide protests scheduled for August 1 in response to the economic hardship in the country.

In response to the proposed protest, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume on Wednesday held a closed-door meeting with ministers.

Speaking after the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said no one would go to sleep among them until the issues were resolved.

He said, “We have discussed issues of national interest and all of us are working for Nigeria and we hope and believe that Nigeria is going to be great again.

“The planned protest is a family matter. All issues will be resolved in a way to ensures the peace and stability of the country. No one is going to sleep. Those who are agitating and asking for protests are Nigerians, they are our brothers, they are our sisters, they are all Nigerians and those in positions of authority; the ministers, the President, everybody, we are 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.”

Idris said the government had been engaging with stakeholders and other organisers of the proposed nationwide protest.

He said, “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 government functionaries have also been meeting with other key stakeholders.”

Reacting to reports by top Nigerians, including constitutional lawyer and human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, that the protests must hold, Idris said the senior lawyer was entitled to his opinion in a democracy.

“He (Falana) is an individual. This is a democracy, everyone is entitled to his opinion. The protesters are also Nigerians, this is a democratic situation. What I keep saying is that we are all Nigerians and we are all acting in the interest of Nigeria, but suffice to say that yesterday, Mr President said there is 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 is a need for any protest, we are appealing for calm; we are 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 are 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.”

Idris said the President’s message to all citizens was to calm down and give him more time.

He said, “Like I said yesterday, everyone is listening; we are 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 asked for, all their pleas will be answered,” Idris said.