Tinubu reacts as Labour, Ndume and others ask him to invite leaders of planned #EndBadGovernment protest

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reacted as the Labour, Senator Ali Ndume and others asked him to invite the leaders of the planned #EndBadGovernment protest for dialogue.

Recall that some groups have issued a notice to Nigerians urging them to prepare for nationwide mass protests against the government’s alleged insensitivity to the plight of the people in its handling of the current multifaceted challenges bedeviling the country.

The planned protest tagged #EndBadGovernment is scheduled begin on August 1, 2024.

On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), in a Monday statement by its president Joe Ajaero called on President Bola Tinubu to invite the leaders of a planned nationwide protest over hardship in the country, asking him to also address the challenges facing the citizens.

“As the date for the widely reported national protest looms, the Nigeria Labour Congress urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leadership of the protest movement for discussions on their grievances,” the NLC President said.

The NLC chief said with inflation hitting 34.19 per cent coupled with the hike in food and electricity tariffs among others, there is a need for President Tinubu to address these challenges.

“It is, therefore, condescending and dismissive to describe the daily brutish ordeal that Nigerians are going through as a sponsored political dissent. Even if it is so, it is still within the confines of citizens’ rights to protest on political grounds. Just that the current unease in the country does not need political motivation to spark and splurge,” Ajaero said.

“All that the hurting citizens demand from their government is a listening ear and an empathetic heart. Maybe, that is what the organisers of the protest are looking for given their continued notices on different social media platforms.”

He faulted what it described as the “hostility” of the Nigerian government toward the planned protest, saying it does not “offer any tangible remedy either to the pain endured by the populace or the frustrations of having so little in a country where a few privileged persons are living in obscene luxury, especially at the expense of the majority. These are dire times. Nigerians are angry”.

“The times require the government to ‘jaw-jaw’ and not ‘war war’ with Nigerians. The truth is that you cannot smack a child and at the same time ask the child not to cry,” he said.

Similarly, Senator Ali Ndume has asked President Tinubu to address the planned nationwide protest over economic hardship using dialogue.

Ndume gave the advice on Monday ahead of the planned protest billed for August 1 across the country.

According to the lawmaker, talking with the organisers who are mostly youths would help in dousing the tension and avert the planned demonstrations.

“I think the President should talk to Nigerians, talk to the youths,” the lawmaker who represents Borno South said on Monday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today

‘Be patient’ – Tinubu

Meanwhile, Tinubu has urged the youth not to carry out their planned protests against the federal government’s economic reforms.

Tinubu made the call in Abuja on Monday at a meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers, where he was represented by the secretary to the government of the federation, George Akume.

“Capitalizing on the economic hardship in the country, some men and women with sinister motives have been reported to have been mobilising citizens, particularly youths, to stage a protest,’’ he said.

According to him, what is required of Nigerians in this critical period of economic reform is patience and commitment to the success of the reforms.

He urged Nigerians to learn from past experiences where crises and violence threatened the nation’s diversity and peace.

“Let’s learn from India and Sudan’s experiences. We are a country with more than 200 million people.

“Therefore, we can’t afford to have this kind of situation,’’ he said.

He said the present administration had put in place policies and programmes to ameliorate the economic hardship being experienced by Nigerians.

“We have procured Compressed Natural Gas vehicles, introduced students’ loan scheme, distributed palliatives, procured tractors, fertiliser, and other agricultural inputs,’’ he said.

He affirmed that the federal government is making concerted efforts to combat insecurity in the country.

“As a custodian of our culture, I would like you to carry the message of peace to the young people and parents in your domains,’’ Tinubu said.

‘There Must Be Peace’ (Sultan)

In his speech, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’adu Abubakar III, identified dialogue as the best option for resolving any conflict.

“What dialogue can’t resolve, no amount of violence can resolve. There must be peace.

‘Nigeria belongs to us all’ – Ooni of Ife

Also speaking, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan, pointed to patriotism among citizens as the key driver toward national development.

“Patriotism is synonymous with national cohesion. Therefore, any attempt to destroy national cohesion must be resisted,’’ he said.

According to him, Tinubu has been working hard to put the country in proper shape despite the challenges.

“Nigeria does not belong to any section of the country; it belongs to all of us,’’ he said.