Nationwide protest: Dialogue best option, group tells Nigerian youths

Amidst growing fear over the August 1 planned nationwide protest to seek redress from the present administration over growing economic hardship, a pro-democracy group, the Forum for the Sustenance of Democracy, has appealed to the organise to shelve it.

Checks revealed that the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF) and security agencies are locked in an ongoing emergency meeting aimed at nipping the much-anticipated protest in the bud.

Further checks revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has equally to masterminds of the protest to shelve it, assuring that his administration was committed to the implementation of measures aimed at mitigating their sufferings.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the spokesperson of the pro-democracy forum, Honourable Abdulrahman Buba Kwaccham, noted that discussion at a negotiating table remains the best option for ventilating grievances.

Honourable Kwaccham who recalled casualties arising from the #EndSars Protests, cautioned that the genuine motive of the Youths could be hijacked by hoodlums and aggrieved politicians with sinister agenda.

He said:” In these turbulent times of uncertainty, there is a growing call for peaceful protests, especially from our youth, seeking change and unity.

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“Yet, history reminds us of the risks involved when hijacking such movements by those seeking to sow chaos and discord.

“We must recognize that any disruption of law and order will only worsen our already challenging economic situation, further intensifying the suffering endured by our people.

“We must engage in constructive dialogue and seek lasting solutions to the socio-economic issues that plague the nation.

“I urge parents, community leaders and influencers to guide our youths away from destructive paths and towards constructive engagements for the betterment of our beloved Nigeria.

“Together, we must unite to protect the peace and stability of our nation, for there is no other land but Nigeria that we can call our own.

“I implore our leaders- political, religious and traditional -to collaborate effectively with the government and devise a comprehensive blueprint for dialogue that addresses the pressing issues facing our country, ensuring a brighter future for all Nigerians.”

The protest, which has garnered significant attention on social media, is scheduled to take place across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

However, while opposition parties consider the protest as an inalienable right of citizens, the ruling party argue that the protest was a ploy by the opposition to take power through subterfuge.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE