Following calls for a nationwide demonstration against President Bola Tinubu’s administration and increasing suffering across the nation, the Federal Government has begged Nigerians for more time, saying it would handle the protest as a “family matter.”
It also promised to settle all disputes in a way that preserves the country’s peace and stability.
The government’s stance was announced on the same day that governors from South-East Nigeria counseled aggrieved Nigerians against organizing nationwide protests, saying that the nation is too tense for such actions.
At the same time, the Nigerian Labour Congress, or NLC, issued a warning against using force to put an end to the demonstration and urged both the federal and state governments to pay attention to the people’s demands.
In a similar vein, human rights advocate Femi Falana, SAN, cautioned the government against intimidating the people organizing the scheduled protest, while the House of Representatives Minority Caucus urged the Federal Government to have a conversation with the demonstrators to discuss their concerns.
In a brief interview, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, stated after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC, yesterday that, “We came together to discuss. As you can see, several of the ministers are present, and this is taking place in the SGF’s office rather than the council rooms.
“We have discussed issues of national interest and all of us are working for Nigeria and we hope and believe Nigeria is going to be great again.
“No one is going to sleep. Those who are agitating and asking for protests are Nigerians, they are our brothers, they are our sisters, they are all Nigerians and those in positions of authority – the ministers, the President, everybody, we are all Nigerians too.
“So, this is a family matter. This is a Nigerian family issue and all of us are looking at this issue very well and we hope that peace will prevail at the end of the day.”
When asked if there had been any communication between the government and the protest organizers and stakeholders, Idris replied that there has always been constant communication.
He said, “This is not a peculiar situation, engagement has been ongoing. The President has met severally with all key stakeholders. I have also been meeting with stakeholders, other government functionaries have also been meeting with other key stakeholders.
“Engagement is going to continue and in the interest of Nigeria, we will continue to engage. We know this is the only country that all of us have and at the end of the day, Nigeria is going to be better for all of us for it.”
In response to claims made by a few prominent Nigerians, such as Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, that the protests must continue, Idris stated that the senior attorney has a right to voice his opinions in a democracy.
“He (Falana) is an individual. This is a democracy, everyone is entitled to his opinion. The protesters are also Nigerians, this is a democratic situation. What I keep saying is that we are all Nigerians and we are all acting in the interest of Nigeria, but suffice to say that yesterday, (Tuesday) Mr President said there is no need for any protest, let us calm down.
“A lot is happening, Nigeria is going to move and march on and we believe that whatever government comes out with will be in the interest of Nigeria. We don’t think there is need for any protest, we are appealing for calm, we are appealing for a peaceful resolution or peaceful approach to any issue.
“If you have anything you want to put out there, you are free to put it out there but government is insisting that we are all Nigerians, we have to be calm, we have to be patient and suffice it to say let us give peace a chance.
“Mr President is working round the clock, his ministers are working, everyone is working, all hands are on deck.
“Like I said yesterday (Tuesday), everyone is listening; we are all listening, the President is listening and he has a message for all Nigerians. That message is that they should all calm down, they should please give the man more time. Everything they asked for, all their pleas will be answered,” he added.
Nyesom Wike (FCT), Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs), Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties), Tahir Mamman (Education), and Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Planning) were among the ministers that attended the conference.
