From Godwin Agia, Jalingo
As the nationwide planned protest scheduled on 1st August, 2024 continue to gather momentum, the Minister of State for Steel Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, has called on Nigerian youths to stay away from people whom he described as anarchists and proponents of division.
The Minister who was addressing journalists and a mammoth crowd in Jalingo on issues surrounding the proposed protest at a special event tagged; “Say no to protest”, he maintained that, organizers of the planned protest were arsonists and people who did not wish the country well.
He urged the youths to shun the protest but rather articulate their issues and stay on them through well coordinated engagement with the government, adding that the President of the country, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a cultured democrat who had variously demonstrated before Nigerians that he is committed to the welfare and well being of the people.
The Minister acknowledged the fact that Nigerians were passing through difficult moment as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy, but urged Nigerians to be patient with the government and to remain prayerful as the president was working on various programs to decisively deal with hunger and other challenges in the country.
“I want you to know that no responsible government will be happy in a situation where its citizens who are our brothers and sisters are suffering. We all have relations everywhere including our villages who are in dear need of these interventions. No body is happy, the government is not happy and that is why serious measures are being taken to address all the challenges
“There are long term and short term measures that are taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration. For the short term interventions, the president has directed the release of several tones of rice and fertilizer to farmers across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory among several other interventions
“I want you to know that there are people, our brothers, Nigerians who want to be clever by half. Having lost the election last year, they are capitalizing on these noise makers. You would hear things like, “we must step down the government”. How do you intend to step down the government and how do you intend to install yourself in government?
“From all these, you would know that they are not genuine in their protest and they did not wish this country well” He stressed.
The Honourable Minister further disclosed that the government was not in anyway, against the protest, especially that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was a true democrat, but that, the government equally owes Nigerians the constitutional right to protect the lives and property of the people, hence the need to regulate the protest.
