The Nigeria First Project Initiative has called on Nigerian youths give the government of President Bola Tinubu a little more time to tackle pressing economic challenges.
The group also urged the government to ameliorate the suffering of the masses by implementing more welfare schemes.
The group said this while speaking on the upcoming nationwide protest, slated to hold on the 1st of August, 2024.
It made the call during an inclusive roundtable with civil society organizations that include youth-based organizations, students’ unions, people with disabilities, women groups, faith-based groups, academia, indigenous leaders, and human rights defenders.
The gathering, held in Katsina on Tuesday, was attended by the Governor of Katsina State, who represented the acting Governor, Alhaji Farouk Lawal Jobe.
The group which said it acknowledged the fact that the common people, who are the majority in Nigeria, are facing severe hardship, including a high cost of living and low purchasing power, added that street protests are not the best method of addressing challenges.
“We premised our reason on historical facts, which show that most of the protests conducted in Nigeria were usually characterized by blockage of roads, harassment of passersby, intimidation, killings, looting of public warehouses, and destruction of critical national assets, among others.
“Our position is also guided by the outcome and impact of street protests in some neighboring African countries, such as Sudan, Libya, and Egypt, which include violence, coup d’état, and civil war.
“Moreover, we have decided not to plunge into the streets because our dear country, Nigeria, is being confronted by multiple challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and vandalism, and therefore, we don’t want to add salt to injury by acting out of anger, which will further divert the attention of our leaders and our gallant security forces.
“More important is the appeal and exhortations by our leaders and elders, including learned ulamas, royal fathers, and senior citizens, who all advised us to rescind our earlier option of staging street protests.
“We are people of culture; hence, we can’t snub our wise elders.
“In view of the aforementioned, we therefore unanimously agreed to shun the upcoming nationwide protest tagged ‘End Bad Governance.”
“All members of this coalition will not partake in the protest. Instead, we are going to continue to explore non-confrontational approaches to channeling our grievances and those of our members,” the group said.
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