Senator Wadada appeals to Nigerians to shun protest, embrace dialogue
….Says disgruntled elements may hijack protest
Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, representing Nasarawa West district has called on Nigerians, particularly the youths, to shun the planned protest billed to hold nationwide from August 1.
The lawmaker warned that such a protest poses grave danger for the country and its nascent democracy, especially that it could be hijacked by anti-democratic elements to unleash mayhem across the country.
Senator Wadada made the call in a statement issued to journalists in Keffi on Sunday.
According to the lawmaker, though the constitution of the country guarantees the right for citizens to embark on peaceful protest, the planned protest has every potential to be hijacked by especially those who do not mean well for the country.
He, therefore, urged Nigerians, particularly the youths, not to join the protest but to embrace dialogue with a view to maintaining peace, law and order.
Senator Wadada warned that there is every likelihood that some disgruntled elements may wish to seize the opportunity provided by the protest to cause mayhem in the country in their bid to derail the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He pointed out that the timing for the protest is wrong, particularly that the country is presently going through a difficult phase occasioned by the reforms initiated by President Tinubu.
“At this material time in the history of our country, it is even inconceivable for anyone to think of embarking on a public protest, particularly the youths and especially at such a time of national rebirth and transformation under the dynamic leadership of President Tinubu.
“It is a known fact that under his Renewed Hope Agenda, the President has initiated a comprehensive strategy being implemented to secure the nation’s prosperity through youth empowerment.
“The President’s agenda is focusing largely on youth inclusion in governance, technological empowerment, diversifying the economy, stimulating entrepreneurship, and skills development, with one of the administration’s significant steps being the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) resolution mandating a 30 per cent inclusion of young people in government,” he said.
Senator Wadada added that while President Tinubu is aware of the hardships being experienced as a result of the reforms he initiated, he has not left Nigerians to their fate as his administration is unfolding various interventions with a view to cushion the hardships.
Turning to his home state of Nasarawa, Senator Wadada said the people have no reason whatsoever to join the planned protest, especially with the pragmatic, transformative and innovative leadership being provided by Governor Abdullahi A. Sule.
He noted that since coming onboard on May 29, 2019, the Governor Sule administration has embarked on deliberate policy thrusts aimed at youth inclusiveness in governance geared towards according the youths their right of place in the scheme of things.
“The administration is doing everything possible to open up our state through foray in the areas of agriculture, mining, industrialization and a purposeful youth inclusiveness. We don’t want to disrupt all these beautiful things happening in Nasarawa State.
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“Through the devoted implementation of the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), the development blueprint for the Governor Sule administration, the state government is vigorously pursuing a holistic transformative agenda anchored on its core policy thrusts in the areas of agriculture, investment/industrialization and mining.
“By attracting investors in the areas of commercial agriculture and mining into the state, the Governor Sule administration is creating countless opportunities for youths in the state in terms of employment, accessing training and exposure.
“In the area of education, Nasarawa State has continued to witness tremendous improvement in the number of enrollment into schools and the quality of education, all as a result of the commitment and determination to better the lives of the younger generation. This is even made possible by the decision to jerk up the annual budgetary allocation to the education sector by over 31 percent of the total budget of the state, way above the recommended 26 percent by UNESCO,” the lawmaker said.
Senator Wadada said because of all of the aforementioned reasons and more, there is never a need for Nigerians to join the planned protest.
“It has therefore become necessary to call on our youths in Nasarawa State and Nigeria as a whole, not join the planned nationwide protest. I urge them to instead embrace dialogue so that our country and state can move forward in peace and harmony,” he said.
He equally appealed to traditional, religious and community leaders across the country to endeavour to pass across the message of restraints, while also calling on security operatives to go about their duties mindful of the fact that Nigerians are free to express their feelings through peaceful protest.
