Some civil society organizations have warned that the protest could be hijacked, similar to the EndSARS protests in 2020 which resulted in loss of life and property.
Nigerians have been advised by some civil society organizations to reject the planned nationwide protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on August 1.
Economic hardship has been a theme for a planned mass protest against the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Since he emerged as president, Nigerians have experienced a significant hike in the price of fuel, and the cost of transportation, food, and other essential commodities has risen by 300%.
This turn of events has led to a planned nationwide peaceful protest against the current government and its officials.
Meanwhile, some civil society organizations, led by Rising Up for a United Nigeria (RUN) and the Coalition of Civil Society Groups for National Stability and Cohesion, have called on Nigerians to refrain from holding the planned contest.
While addressing the media on Monday, Solomon Adodo, convener of RUN, along with Danesi Momoh of the Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative and Igwe Ude-umanta of Guardians of Democracy and Development, urged Nigerians not to succumb to ‘unpatriotic elements’ aiming to destabilize the country.
According to them, certain individuals are trying to exploit Nigeria’s current challenges to incite unrest. They said that the planned protest is driven by bitterness towards the current government.
“While we respect the right to peaceful protest as a fundamental aspect of our democracy, it is crucial to remain vigilant and not be swayed by those who seek to destabilize our beloved country for their own gain.”
“These voices of opposition, bitter and disgruntled politicians, and other unpatriotic interests have been employing sensationalism and exploiting the initial challenges of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold reforms to instigate Nigerians,” they said.
The coalition warned that the protest could be hijacked, similar to the EndSARS protests, resulting in loss of lives and properties.
Despite the hardship faced by Nigerians since the fuel subsidy removal, they noted that Tinubu’s administration is addressing these issues through various initiatives.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved centers for converting petrol and diesel-powered vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at no cost to vehicle owners under the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGi),” they mentioned.
In conclusion, they urged Nigerians to stand by the government and resist attempts to create chaos.
“We must stand by him while offering fair and constructive criticisms where necessary,” the coalition said.
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