Shun Protest, Join Us To Eat With Tinubu – Akpabio Urges Nigerians

• Says Niger Delta remains protest-free zone

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio has urged aggrieved Nigerians to shun their planned protests while joining him and other officials of government to eat from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration.

This is as he said the proposed #EndBadGovernance protests by some Nigerians and Civil Society activists would not take place in the nine states of the Niger Delta.

Speaking during the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Executive Management Engagement with Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities and Stakeholders in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Tuesday, Akpabio backed the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku’s position urging Niger Deltans to resist being lured into any action capable of destabilising the country.

He described the region as a protest-free zone and appealed to Nigerians to give President Bola Tinubu’s administration more time to enable ongoing reforms yield positive results.

According to him; “We are not interested in regime change. Let us own this government. Those who want to protest can protest. But let us be there eating. Actions are being taken by the government to do everything possible to meet the needs of the people because we recognise the difficult times. 

“So, as the Senate president, I want to appeal to all Nigerian youths to give this administration an opportunity for most of the policies to mature. The whispers of our nation are already receiving attention. The economic challenges are known to the president because all of us feel the impact of what is happening now.”

He further said; “Give Tinubu a chance to deliver on his policies and some people ask how long and I tell them even if you have to take all the time it took you to get to this point.

“Be assured that the Tinubu administration will release the necessary funds for critical projects in the Niger Delta region. I will ensure that the needs of our people and dreams are realised”.

While giving details of the youth internship scheme flagged off by the Federal Government in the region, the Senate President said about 10,000 youths would be engaged in the programme designed to improve their skills and empower them.

He stated that the beneficiaries in the first phase would be paid N50,000.

Earlier in his remarks, NDDC Chief Executive, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, had cautioned the youths to stay off protesting at this point in time, noting that such action would hinder development and further impoverish the people.

Ahead of the planned nationwide protest which is less than 24 hours to its commencement on Thursday, August 1, 2024, experts have cautioned that the action is most likely to cost the Country about N4 trillion in terms of economic losses.

According to available statistics put forward by the experts, the protest portends grave dangers for an economy that is already in a very fragile state.

The protest being planned mostly by youths, who are decrying poverty, unemployment, hardship and suffering in the country, will commence from August 1 to August 10, 2024.