To respond to the increasing economic hardship, as well as calls for nationwide protests against the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, the Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians for more time, and also to address the issues with urgency.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister for Information and National Orientation, had passed this message on Wednesday, July 24, in Abuja, after a Federal Executive Council meeting was held Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Idris portrayed the planned protests as a “family matter”, and he assured that the government is committed to resolving all issues in a way that will bring peace and stability across the country.
The Minister admitted that he understands the concerns of citizens, and he emphasized that the administration is focused on implementing solutions to reduce the hardships.
After the enclosed meeting, he said, “We came together to discuss. You can see that this is not happening at the Council Chambers, it’s happening at the office of the SGF, and many of the ministers are here. We have discussed issues of national interest, and all of us are working for Nigeria and we hope and believe that Nigeria is going to be great again.”
“No one is going to sleep. Those who are agitating and asking for protests are Nigerians, and 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.”
He was asked if the government has been engaging with the stakeholders and organizers of the planned protest. 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, and 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”
He was also asked about some top Nigerians, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Femi Falana, who are insisting that the protest must happen. He said:
“He (Falana) is an individual. This is a democracy, and everyone is entitled to his opinion. The protesters are also Nigerians, and 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, 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 that there is a need for any protest, we are appealing for calm, we are appealing for a peaceful resolution or a peaceful approach to any issue.”
“If you have anything that you want to put out there, you are free to put it out there, but the government is insisting that we are all Nigerians; we have to be calm, we have to be patient and suffice it to say that 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, 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.”
