Tinubu urges Nigerian youth to avoid protests over economic reforms, warning against exploitation of economic hardship by those with ulterior motives.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that President Bola Tinubu has called on young Nigerians to refrain from participating in planned protests against the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
The protests, set for August 1st to 10th, aim to draw attention to the prevailing hardships in the country.
Speaking at the National Council of Traditional Rulers meeting in Abuja, Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, warned against allowing economic difficulties to be exploited by individuals with ulterior motives to incite unrest.
He stressed the need for patience and commitment during this period of economic reform, urging citizens to remember past crises that threatened national peace and diversity. Tinubu also highlighted lessons from the experiences of India and Sudan, emphasizing that Nigeria, with its population of over 200 million, cannot afford such instability.
“Capitalising on the economic hardship in the country, some individuals with sinister motives have been reported to be mobilizing citizens, particularly youths, to stage a protest. 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.
The President assured that the government has implemented policies to alleviate economic challenges, including procuring Compressed Natural Gas vehicles, introducing a student loan scheme, distributing palliatives, and providing agricultural inputs like tractors and fertilizers.
He also emphasized ongoing efforts to address security issues in the country.
Tinubu urged traditional leaders to promote peace within their communities and engage with young people and parents to foster harmony.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’adu Abubakar III, supported this view, advocating dialogue as the best means to resolve conflicts and highlighting the necessity of peace.
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan, stressed the importance of patriotism and national cohesion for development, asserting that any threat to unity must be resisted.
He acknowledged President Tinubu’s efforts to address the nation’s challenges and reiterated that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens.
Dr. Mainasara Umar-Kogo, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, noted the effectiveness of traditional institutions as local administrative bodies since pre-colonial times.
He called for their roles to be restored in the constitution to preserve socio-cultural values, suggesting that past administrative reforms have diminished their influence.
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