Protests: FCT youths pull out of nationwide demonstration

The Federal Youth Movement, in collaboration with civil society organizations in Abuja, on Sunday, decided to pull out of the protests due to fears of potential violence and the involvement of foreign sponsors.

The group’s decision follows reports of a youth-led nationwide protest planned to address the country’s economic hardship.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, coordinator of the group, Sa’ad Mohammed, said that the planned nationwide protest has a violent undertone, and therefore called on Nigerians in the FCT to withdraw from participating in the scheduled protest.

This decision follows appeals from federal and state governments to postpone the protest as religious and traditional institutions also called for cancellation.

Sa’ad admitted that the increase in fuel price, floating of the Naira, and other policies implemented by the Tinubu administration have plunged the nation into an unprecedented economic crisis with skyrocketing inflation rates.

He said: “After several meetings and engagements between our group and all the Security Agencies in the FCT, we have privileged information that there are foreign sponsors determined to destabilize the country.

“We have also observed some political undertones behind this call for mass action. While the hike in electricity tariffs and other issues are affecting the general populace, we believe there are alternative means to address our grievances instead of physical street protests.”

The group also urged President Tinubu to address several critical issues, including reducing insecurity in Northern Nigeria and tackling inflation which is currently at 34.2 percent.

He added, ” Reverse the hiked electricity tariff, reinstate the fuel subsidy while accelerating efforts to revive our refineries, ensure food security by protecting farmlands, and reduce the cost of governance by cutting allowances for public office holders, starting with himself.”

“We can not shy away from the fact that Nigeria is passing through a very difficult time in our history, the increase in fuel price has led to an unbearable hardship, the floating of the Naira-and some other policies from Tinubu=led administration has also plunged the nation into an unbelievable economic crisis as inflation rate skyrocketed.

“There is an issue of hike in electricity tariffs and so on, which is biting hard on the general masses, however, we can device other means to channel our grievances rather than physical protest on the street.”