By Stanley Onyekwere
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared that Abuja, the FCT unavailable for the planned August first national protest against prevailing hardship.
Wike, who stated this position while briefing journalists after FCT security Council meeting in Area 11, Garki, Abuja, said the day has been designated as a day that the entire six Area Councils will be meeting to recognise and give certificates of honour to their traditional rulers.
Our correspondent reports that among those who attended the security meeting yesterday include FCT Minister of State, FCTA management team, Area council chairmen and heads of security agencies domiciled in FCT.
According to the minister, this period, instead of joining protest, all Nigerians should work collectively with the government, in order to salvage the country.
“We are all aware of the threat as regards to what some people may call “End bad governance protest”. We believe that yes, we have right to protest; we have right to demonstrate, but all these have to come within the ambit of the law.
“Mr. President and his team are working very hard to make sure that those challenges, those problems facing our country are being solved. We know that it is very difficult period for citizens.
“We urged all Nigerians to also have patience that at the end of the day, we will come out of this economic woes.
“We have seen the changes in the FCT, we have seen that government is working. Mr. President has given FCT so much support, that is why all of us can attest to the fact that there is a lot of changes going on in the FCT, and therefore we will not allow anybody to set us back, as we are looking forward to make sure that we take FCT to where it is supposed to be, as one of the major cities not only in Africa, but also in the world.
“So, we will not anybody to disrupt peace and set us back. For those who want to protest on the first of August or thereabout, FCT is not available for such protest”, he stated.
He continues: “Unfortunately though, that is a day FCT has set aside that the entire Area Councils will be jubilating to gove out certificate of recognition their traditional rulers. So we will not allow that day that the entire FCT has set aside to honour their traditional rulers for the people to come and rejoice, and then somebody would say that he wants to disrupt us that day. So we want to make it categorically clear, that the day is a day of the entire six Area Councils will be meeting to recognise and give our certificates of honour to their traditional rulers.
“We also invite our people to come and join us that day in celebrating, it is part of the achievements of the administration, so let the whole world hear us, and hear us very well that that day is not available for those who want to protest, and FCT is not available for the protesters.”
Earlier, the Minister inspected the ongoing construction of five-kilometre access road linking Saburi 1 and 2 in Abuja Municipal Area Council, which is part of the 42.- kilometre rural roads being constructed across the six area councils of the FCT.
While interacting with residents in Saburi community, Wike urged them to shun any form of protest in the FCT, as the organisers don’t mean well for them.
