75 Senators Hold Emergency Session To Address Nigerians Over Protests

75 Senators Hold Emergency Session To Address Nigerians Over Protests

The Nigerian Senate has urged the organizers of the planned #EndBadGovernance protests to give President Bola Tinubu more time to implement his policies and allow them to yield results.

Ireporteronline reports that the Senate believes that one year is too short for the President’s economic and social policies to take root and produce tangible outcomes.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio disclosed the Senate’s resolution after an executive session, which was attended by 75 Senators despite speculation that some had left the country ahead of the planned protests.

The Senate’s appeal comes as various stakeholders have expressed concerns about the planned protests, which are scheduled to commence on August 1.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has asked protest organizers to provide necessary information to the police to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

Other leaders, including the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, and Governors AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, have also appealed to the protest organizers to reconsider their decision and shelve the protests to maintain peace in the country.

However, Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has endorsed the protests.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has raised fresh security concern ahead of the planned nationwide protest scheduled to commence on August 1, 2024.

In a statement on Wednesday, the government expressed concern that bandits and insurgents may hijack the much-anticipated demonstrations.

The Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, while briefing journalists and media executives at the Radio House in Abuja on Wednesday, noted that rather than protest, Nigerians should engage the government through another means to ensure the current administration delivers on its campaign promises.

“Government is weary of the dangers associated with protests that are vulnerable to being highjacked by bandits, insurgents and other criminals.

“Rather, we request that dialogue should be advanced, and we remain open to such,” Akume said, insisting that protest is not the solution to the challenges, which the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is working to solve.