Address Nigerians, reshuffle cabinet to stave off protests, ex-SGF tells Tinubu

• Abass pleads for stay of action, insists Tinubu will resolve matters
• Nigeria has thinking govt, not bad govt, says Presidency
• Organisers reject IGP’s proposal for confined protests
• Court restricts protests in Lagos to Freedom, Peace Parks

If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wishes to stave off the planned nationwide protest against hunger, which begins tomorrow, he stands a good chance by urgently addressing the nation, outlining immediate and long-term measures to surmount the current economic quagmire, and reshuffling his cabinet to include “a mix of technocrats and politicians.”

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, gave this advice in a statement yesterday.

In the suggested address, Lawal said the President should come up with persuasive arguments intended to placate angry and hungry citizens.

“Under the current climate, Nigerians cannot be intimidated by this government, nor do they respect it. So, avoid the macho tough talk. In the proposed address to the nation, enumerate concrete and believable government policies intended to address current challenges on an immediate, medium, and long-term basis,” he said.

On the call for a mix of technocrats and politicians in the cabinet, Lawal said politicians are more adept at communicating with the people and have more stakes in a government’s successes or failures.

“These Lagos technocrats who now fill the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies lack knowledge of Nigeria’s workings. The majority of them are rude, inaccessible, and clannish,” he said.

The former SGF also told the President to purposefully address the excessive nepotism in this government, noting that “the Southwest dominates this government excessively and obnoxiously”.

He added that the current Senate leadership operates a dictatorship in which no dissent is tolerated.

“This is insidiously building an imperceptible revolt that might soon explode. For example, Senator Ndume was sincerely speaking truth to power when he said the President is unreachable. A slavish legislature is neither good for your long-term interests nor that of the country at large.

“People are taking exception to these ways of handling contrary opinions in the polity. In the North, we have taken great exception to how you (or people acting on your behalf) maltreated Nasiru, Ningi, Ndume, and lately, Dangote.

“Your very close associates are also busy meddling in the affairs of senior traditional institutions in the Northwest, which we believe has the intended purpose of dismembering northern political and social harmony and hegemony.

“In the Southeast, your fixation on Peter Obi and the unfair treatment of Igbo businesses in Lagos is unsettling. There is also no denying the fact that political crises in Rivers State would have been long settled had the President shown an inclination to resolve them. It is instructive that no individual or institution in the Southwest has suffered such unjust treatment.”

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Abbas Tajudeen, again pleaded with those behind the planned protests to shelve the action in the country’s interest.

In a message to Nigerians, the Speaker assured them that the Tinubu administration is not relenting in its efforts to bring succour to the citizens.

The Speaker also said the House of Representatives has taken measures to continuously engage the youth to hear their earnings and aspirations with a view to addressing them.

He said: “I address you today with a heart full of empathy and a deep sense of duty. We are living through challenging times, and I want to acknowledge the difficulties that many of you, especially our youth, face. The economic pressures, social uncertainties, and other related concerns weigh heavily on our nation.

“Your frustrations and reservations are not lost on us. We hear your cries for change; for a better and more equitable Nigeria. I want to assure you that these concerns are taken with the utmost seriousness by the government of President Bola Tinubu. We are committed to listening, engaging, and working with you to find sustainable solutions to the issues that confront us.

“The government has initiated several policies and programmes aimed at addressing the needs and aspirations of our youth. One such initiative is the introduction of student loans to ease the burden of educational expenses and ensure that no Nigerian youth is denied the opportunity to pursue their academic dreams due to financial constraints.”

Abbas said the Tinubu-led administration has made significant strides in providing access to funds for young entrepreneurs through various initiatives, such as the Consumer Credit Scheme, designed to support innovation and enterprise.
He noted that the government also focuses on job creation and skills development. According to him, “Programmes aimed at enhancing employability and creating sustainable livelihoods are being prioritised. We are committed to ensuring that the Nigerian youth are not just job seekers but job creators.”

He further highlighted the efforts of the House of Representatives, saying the lawmakers are in the process of developing formal legislative mechanisms to ensure continuous engagement and dialogue with the youth.

“We believe that your voices must be heard, and we are creating platforms for regular interaction to build consensus on the way forward,” he explained.

The Speaker urged the youth to “remember that nation-building is a collective task. We must shun violence and embrace dialogue. Your right to protest is acknowledged and respected. Let us use legitimate avenues to express our grievances and work together towards constructive solutions.”

He appealed to the planners of the nationwide protests to shelve their action in the interest of the nation, saying: “Let’s give the government more time. Let’s open doors for purposeful dialogue with the government. As I have mentioned above, there are measures taken by the government to nip our challenges in the bud.

“I want to reaffirm the House of Representatives’ commitment to stand with you, to work with you, and to ensure that your future is bright.”

RELATEDLY, the Presidency faulted the organisers of the planned protest, saying there is no bad government in Nigeria but rather a thinking government.

Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Tinubu, Tunde Rahman, spoke in Lagos at the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, 2024, themed: ‘Rapidly Changing Media Landscape: Media Survival Strategies.’

He said: “I’m calling a lot of us to not go on the street. We have to be mindful of the real motive of people who are calling us to join in the protest. Yes, challenges are there. Our economy is in turmoil. And this is not peculiar to Nigeria. Most of the world’s economies are in turmoil at the moment.

“The President is doing his best to address this problem. They’ve tagged the protest ‘end to bad governance’. I do not think we have bad governance at the moment. We have a thinking government. Some problems need to be addressed, and some of the solutions that have been applied will resolve the problem sooner rather than later.”

This came as the organisers of the planned demonstrations rejected a proposal by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to confine the protests.

At a meeting with the organisers, yesterday, the IGP suggested confined protests in identified locations and advised against street rallies.

“It is not advisable to go on street processions because as you are planning a protest; some are planning violence,” the IGP advised.

However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a lawyer for the Take It Back Movement, one of the protest groups, rejected the proposal.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN), representatives of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), other lawyers, civil society organisations, and some arrowheads of the planned protests also attended the virtual meeting.

Spokesman of the police, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, said: “During the meeting, the IGP emphasised the importance of maintaining public order and safety during the planned protests. He acknowledged the group’s right to express their concerns through peaceful protests and reiterated the Police Force’s duty to facilitate such rights within the bounds of the law.

“To this end, the IGP advised the Take It Back Movement, which has indicated its interest in protesting, to engage with the respective State Police Commissioners to coordinate and plan the protests in a manner that ensures the safety of participants and the general public while pre-empting any security challenges and ensuring that the protests proceed peacefully.

“Additionally, the IGP strongly advised against unplanned open and unnecessary processions due to the potential dangers they pose. He stressed that organising and coordinating with the police and other security agencies are essential steps to mitigate risks, protect the rights of all citizens, and protect the well-being of all involved.

“The Inspector General of Police, while reiterating that the Force remains dedicated to protecting the rights of all citizens and ensuring that all public gatherings are conducted safely and securely, calls on stakeholders to work together to foster a peaceful and secure environment during the planned protests.”

BUT a Lagos High Court, yesterday, granted an ex parte application filed by the State’s Attorney General and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lawal Pedro, seeking to restrict the proposed protest in Lagos to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu.

Justice Emmanuel Ogundare granted the order of pre-emptive remedy by way of an interim injunction to restrict the defendants from converging and carrying out the proposed protests in Lagos from August 1-10, except in the two approved locations from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The application lists Adamma Ukpabi and Tosin Harsogba (for Active Citizens Group), Comrade Juwon Sanyaolu and Hassan Soweto (for Take It Back Movement), persons unknown, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, as defendants.

While moving his application before the court, the Attorney General argued that as the Chief Law Officer of the State, and having been privy to notices by different interests who are for and against the nationwide protest, there is a need to protect the critical infrastructures of the state and prevent an irreparable loss of life and property as witnessed during the #EndSARS protest in 2020.

Pedro also maintained that police in the state do not have sufficient manpower to provide security support for the protesters who planned to protest in all the local councils, public highways, and other areas of public access.

He further argued that the protest must be prevented from being hijacked by hoodlums who are prepared to breach law and order and cause destruction in different locations under the pretext of public protest against alleged bad governance.