Christian Conscience, a non-governmental group, has enjoined President Bola Tinubu to engage in constructive dialogue with the restive youths and other groups agitating to go on a national protest to shelve the idea for the sake of the common people in the country.
The group stated this recently, while rising from its monthly executive meeting held in Lagos. It argued that allowing protest at this period when the economy is undergoing massive restructuring will be counter productive.
The position of the group was made known in a statement, jointly signed by the group’s National President, Dr. Yetunde Akinluyi and General Secretary, Rev’d. Kolawole Verrals and made available to journalists through its National Publicity Director, Tunji Oguntuase.
Advising Nigerians to give government more time for its economic intervention to stabilise, the group noted that they are aware that the current administration inherited a near comatose economy from successive past governments.
The statement read in part: ” We are aware of the hardship being experienced by all Nigerians, but patience and endurance need to be applied by all the groups. However, what is the motive and gain of a protest at a time like this? Any activities to embark upon, those concerned should have the outcome in mind. The fatherly approach and wisdom, the President applied while negotiating the issue of minimum wage with labour groups few weeks back should also be applied to bring the agitators to avert the looming protest,” it statement.
Christian Conscience also appealed to petroleum regulators having lingering impasse with Dangote group, to handle the situation with care and mutual understanding, saying, “government always encourage indigenous companies.”
It commended the intervention of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri in resolving the issue and urged regulatory bodies to strike a balance between policies, initiatives and socio-economic factors.
Admonishing government to protect investors both from within and outside the country, the group said,“ doing this will make their investments solidified and substantiated in the country.”
