The All Progressives Congress (APC), Southwest Zone, yesterday stated that the hardship facing the country was expected due to the economic changes effected by President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

The Southwest Executive Committee of the party, during an emergency meeting in Akure, Ondo State capital, appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience, assuring that the temporary pain would soon give way to a meaningful livelihood for all.

In a communiqué signed by the National Vice Chairman of the party in the zone, Issac Kekemeke, and Zonal Secretary, Vincent Bewaji, which acknowledged the right of the people to protest, the party called on all southwesterners not to allow the zone to be used as a centre of violent protest, particularly since the zone was yet to recover from the impact of the #EndSARS protest.

While urging government officials from the zone to return home and intimate their constituents on the efforts of the government in solving the economic challenges, the APC tasks opposition parties, students, and traditional and religious leaders to protect the socio-economic interests of the zone from being tampered with in the guise of protest.

The communiqué read, “The Party in the Zone notes the giant and monumental steps already taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to give a new socio-economic direction to Nigeria to ultimately ensure prosperity and abundance for all Nigerians.

“The Party in the Zone further notes that, as to be expected, the monumental structural economic changes undertaken by the government have brought hardship to a great number of Nigerians. Members of the party in the Southwest are not insulated from the pain and hardship.

“The Party pleads with Nigerians to bear these temporary hardships and pains with patience and equanimity and assures that, in no time, these pains will give way to a meaningful livelihood for all Nigerians.

“The party in the zone urges all state chapters of the party in the Southwest to continue to sensitise members of the party and the public in their states on the need to keep peace and tranquillity in the region.

“The party in the zone categorically and unequivocally condemns the call for a change of a democratically elected government outside of periodic elections and other legally provided procedures as unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic, and provocative. Election losers, their supporters, and sympathisers must learn to wait for the next round of elections.

“The Party in the Zone pledges its loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commends his bold, courageous, and foresighted leadership of Nigeria. The Party encourages the President to continue, while doggedly executing the renewed hope agenda, to be mindful of the present hardship facing Nigerians and, as characteristic of him, to be flexible in addressing the negative consequences of government desirable programs on ordinary Nigerians.”