Two Days To Go… More Groups Back Out Of Planned Hunger Protest

Barely 48 hours before the start of the planned nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance, several groups in the states have announced their withdrawal from the demonstration.

The Arewa Citizens Action for Good Leadership (ACAGL), along with 23 other groups that participated in the protest mobilisation, have declared its intention to withdraw from it.

Addressing a press conference in Kano yesterday, the group led by the spokesman of the Kano chapter of the ACAGL, Saeed Sulaiman, stated that they were withdrawing due to the potential risks, vulnerabilities and consequences of participating in the protest.

He explained that the decision was based on the need to prioritise the peace and stability of Kano State in particular and the northern region in general.

Also, the Nigerian Youth Parliament has appealed to the youth to reconsider their plan and instead opt for dialogue to vent their grievances.

Speaker of the parliament, Azeezat Yishawu, made this appeal in a press statement issued to our correspondent, yesterday.

She acknowledged the challenges faced by young people, including the impact of subsidy removal and exchange rate fluctuations. Still, she warned that protests might not yield positive results and could lead to lawlessness and vandalism.

Also, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the Gamji Members Association (GAMA), and the Ibagun Progressive Union (IPU) have appealed to Nigerians to avoid the August 1-10, 2024, planned protest against the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government.

The three socio-cultural organisations made the appeal in separate statements yesterday, which were made available to newsmen in Ilorin, Kwara State.

ACF chairman in Kwara State, Dr Ghali Alaaya made the appeal in a statement in Ilorin.

Similarly, the Katsina Concerned Citizens for Good Governance has withdrawn from the nationwide protest scheduled for August 1, 2024, citing concerns about potential chaos and violence.

On its part, the leadership of the National Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (NATOMORAS) has cautioned its members against participating in the August 1 planned protest in the country.

The national president of the association, Alhaji Usman Buba Gwoza, who gave the warning in a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said after careful consideration and deliberation among their members, they decided to disassociate themselves from the planned protest scheduled for 1st August 2024.

The NOGALSS Multipurpose Cooperative Society has also backed the position of NATOMORAS in calling on Keke NAPEP and Motorcycle owners and riders to refrain from participating in the protest.

President of the cooperative society, Comrade Noah Emmanuel, explained that as a key partner to NATOMORAS, entrusted with managing all empowerment Initiatives for its members, it recognised the significant strides the federal government has made in fulfilling their promises to their community.

It’s plot to topple Tinubu’s govt, APC alleges

Meanwhile, the chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have vowed to commence nationwide solidarity rallies across the country for President Bola Tinubu from July 29 to August 11 to counter the planned protests against bad governance.

The secretary, Forum of APC state chairmen and the party’s chairman in Cross River state, Alphonsus Eba, disclosed this while addressing journalists on behalf of his colleagues at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

He commended the patience and tolerance of Nigerians in the past one year as well as traditional, religious and political leaders who have continued to appeal to the people to give the president more time to implement his Renewed Hope Agenda.

Eba claimed that the planned protests were aimed at toppling the administration of President Tinubu.

He said, “Against this background, in the next two weeks commencing from today, 29th July to 11th August, 2024, and from this press briefing, we shall follow with a solidarity rally by all structures of our party across all political wards, LGAs and states capital, including Abuja, FCT.”

According to him, it was proper to bring to the knowledge of Nigerians that the political undercurrents flowing from the planned protest appear to have redirected the initial focus of the planned protest from economic hardship to an unconstitutional change of government by some failed politicians.

NASS Holds Emergency Plenary On Wednesday

The National Assembly is to hold an emergency plenary session tomorrow to discuss issues of national importance.

Both chambers of the House of Representatives adjourned plenary on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, for the lawmakers’ annual recess.

The emergency plenary, which was disclosed in a notice by the Clerk of the Senate, Francis Akubueze, to Senators, said the plenary will hold by noon.

The memo read: “The President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, has directed that an emergency plenary sitting of the Senate be convened.

“Distinguished Senators are requested to make all necessary arrangements to attend as issues of national importance will be discussed.”

Similarly, House of Representatives spokesperson Rotimi Akin said in a statement that the plenary will focus on critical matters requiring immediate legislative attention.

Akin noted that it was customary for the House to reconvene from recess to address pressing national issues.

The statement read, “The House of Representatives wishes to announce that, under the directive of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, a plenary session has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 31, 2024.”

Abuja traders, marketers reject protest

Traders, marketers, and shop owners across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have distanced themselves from the planned nationwide protests billed to commence on August 1, 2024.

Chairman of all chairmen and secretaries of FCT Markets and Plazas, Chief Raphael Okorie, told newsmen that the nationwide protests would disrupt their businesses, hence their reason for boycotting them.

Okorie, who doubles as the national coordinator of Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN), said a series of meetings had been held with members of the various market unions in the FCT, as well as security agencies on how to protect the markets.

“We understand that prices have gone up significantly. But this is not peculiar to only Nigeria. This is a global trend. Violent protests will never solve problems. Only dialogue will work, and I call on our members not to join. Instead, we call on them. to protect their businesses and remain law-abiding. I believe President Tinubu is working hard to address these concerns,” Okorie said.

Hunger Protest: Soldiers Take Over Major Abuja Road

Ahead of the planned hunger protest, military personnel have taken over roads leading into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), leaving commuters stranded for hours as a result of the stop-and-search operation.

This development left commuters plying the Keffi-Abuja expressway stranded on Monday after military officers barricaded the highway to conduct a stop-and-search operation on vehicles entering the nation’s capital.

The soldiers mounted a roadblock at Sani Abacha Barracks before the popular AYA Roundabout which caused a major gridlock on the road.

Security agencies did not give any prior warning to the blockade that caused a gridlock extending to as far as Nyanya Bridge, more than 12 kilometres from the checkpoint.

Civil servants and traders who work in Abuja live outside the city centre in places such as Nyanya, Karu, Maraba and Masaka. After hours of standstill, many of them were forced to return home.

IG orders police protection for protesters

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has directed senior police officers to protect participants in the #EndBadGovernance protests scheduled for 1-10 August, 2024.

The police chief gave the directive in a letter dated 29 July 2024, signed by his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola, following a request by human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).

Adegboruwa had written to the police boss on 28 July, 2024, seeking protection for the hunger protesters.

According to the letter, the police chief instructed senior officers to comply with the senior lawyer’s request.

Protest: Beware Of Failed Politicians, Gov Diri Warns Youths

The governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, has cautioned the youth of the state to be wary of failed politicians who plan to use the proposed national protest to disturb the peace of the state.

Governor Diri, who stated this during the 34th state security council meeting in Yenagoa on Monday, said security reports indicated that politicians that lost the last governorship election in the state were plotting to cause mayhem.

In a statement by his chief press secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, the governor appealed to the youths to avoid being used by such politicians, saying they do not mean well for the state.

Anarchy Will Only Stall Nigeria’s Growth, Akpabio Tells Protesters

Similarly, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has appealed to protesters across Nigeria to exercise their right to demonstrate peacefully, emphasizing that violent actions could impede the nation’s development.

Akpabio’s call for peace came on the heels of the recent signing of the National Minimum Wage Bill into law, establishing a new minimum wage of N70,000 a month.

Akpabio, in an interview with State House correspondents on Monday after President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage, warned them against allowing themselves to be misled by individuals with political agendas, particularly those who lost out in the 2023 elections.