By Joy Odor
The Forum of all Progressive Congress (APC) States Chairmen in Nigeria on Monday bemeaoned on the violent planned nationwide hunger protests by the faceless group, saying it will annihilate the democratic ideals which all political parties subscribed to.
The Forum in their address while briefing newsmen at APC Secretariat in Abuja led by it’s Chairman, Cross River State Secretary of Forum, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, informed that the plan protests by failed politicians who want to get power through every illegitimate means by inciting ignorant Nigerians to embark on protests, is unacceptable and must resist it in the most civil manner.
He called on all patriotic Nigerian to resist any attempt by any one or any group of persons to intimidate them into unorganized protest likely to endanger the peace we currently enjoy as a Nation.
Eba commended the patience and tolerance of Nigerians the one year of President Bola Tinubu, and align with the traditional, religious and political leaders, fathers, mothers and friends alike across diverse religious, ethnic and different political parties to humbly appeal to all Nigerians to give Tinubu more time to implement his Renewed Hope projects and programs.
“PROTEST is a constitutional right when done through the rule of law. HOWEVER, security reports have shown that it is counterproductive to embark on this protest this time as there are sinister arrangements by some unpatriotic persons to hijack the protest for the sole purpose of unleashing nefarious agenda to perpetrate violence and indulge in high level criminality reminiscent of the 2020 Endsars protest and the recent experience in Kenya.
“Fellow Nigerians, It is our humble view that this will worsen our already challenging socio economic situation and that is why we have decided to join our voices to make this appeal to all Nigerians.
“FURTHERMORE, we have become fully aware through public utterances of some persons that the protest is more political than the economic concerns earlier expressed.
“It is therefore proper to bring to the knowledge of rightly guided patriotic Nigerians that the political under current flowing from the planned protest appears to have redirected the initial focus of the planned protest from economic hardship to an unconstitutional change of government by some failed politicians.
“While elections have since been concluded and all judicial disputes amicably resolved by the Supreme Court, the attempt by sore losers trying to use this planned protest to achieve their aim is stoutly condemned by us APC Chairmen and must be condemned by all Nigerians across political parties who fought so hard toward the attainment of the democracy we all enjoy today.
“As the ruling party, we are prepared to meet every contestant in 2027 but we will not fold our arms and allow undemocratic forces to topple the Government we worked so hard to elect into office. That will be a disservice to the good people of Nigeria who freely gave us this mandate.
“Despite the challenges of the moment, we are confident and very optimistic that the president’s policy in the areas of the Students loan schemes, the Consumer credit scheme, the minimum wage award by over 133%, the CNG Vehicle conversion policy, the renewed vigor in the war against corruption, insurgency, banditry, crude oil theft, the massive infrastructural projects, the renewed Hope housing project across the country, massive distribution of food and financial supports to all the States across political parties lines as palliatives, the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development to address the persistent farmers and herders clashes, the review of the Privatization policy of previous administrations particularly the reform in the Energy sector, the recent supreme court judgement on Local Government Autonomy, the massive investment in Agriculture and its value chain to guarantee food security, the removal of import taxes on pharmaceuticals and food products, the recent surge in daily crude oil production from 800,000 barrels per day to over 1,600,000 barrels per day are eloquent testimonial to the effectuation of Mr. Presidents policy and these are wonderful steps in the right direction that will soon reflect positive prospect in the Nigerian economy.
“The commencement of refined petroleum from both Dangote and Port Harcourt refineries will doubtlessly bring complete turnaround for our current economy woes and Nigeria/ Nigerians will soon have a breath of fresh air again.
“We therefore humbly appeal that a little more patience be shown by all Nigerians even as we urge all our party men and women and Nigerians across political party lines to remain vigilant and work towards maintaining peace, law and order in their respective domain and localities to protect our hard earned democracy.
“We call on Patriots to join forces with Security Agencies to report any criminal element who attempt to carry out any act of violence.
“Against this background, in the next two weeks commencing from today 29th July to 11th August 2024 and from this press briefing, which shall follow with a solidarity rally by all structures of our party across all political wards, LGAs and States capital including Abuja FCT, we shall embark on peaceful rally to re echo the laudable projects and the programs of President Tinubu with greater vigor to protect and defend our democracy from any attack by hoodlums or some criminal elements who wants to carry out violent protest.
“All our party men and concerned Nigerian in other political parties, are enjoined to stand firm in protection of Democracy.
“We call on all security Agencies to please stand by their Oath to protect life and properties. We humbly urge them to be proactive rather than being reactionary” he said.
