By Our Reporter
President Bola Tinubu adopted a conciliatory tone, Tuesday, as he allayed the fears of the youths planning a national protest, pleading with them to sheath their swords and shelve their plans. He assured them that he was looking into their grievances with a view to addressing them.
The youths and some aggrieved Nigerians had planed a 10 day nationwide protest beginning from August 1, 2024, over the high cost of living in the country, which has been largely blamed on the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira among others.
Conveying the message to Nigerians after meeting with the president, the minister of information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris spoke with State House Correspondents at the presidential villa in Abuja.
Idris said the president was working diligently to tackle some of the vexed issues as enumerated by the youths.
The minister said that at the meeting with the President, general issues on the country were discussed and that the President said he is working assiduously to ensure the country’s economy is placed in a good position.
Idris said: ‘’We discussed the issue of the country in general and Mr President has asked me to again inform Nigerians that he listens to them, especially the young people that are trying to protest.
“Mr President said he listens to them and takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today, but also for the future.
“The issue of the planned protest, Mr President does not see any need for that, he asked them to shelve that plan and he has asked them to await the government’s response to all their pleas, he has listened to them.’’
The President’s assurance is coming on the heels of the showdown between the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga; and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi.
Recall that the Presidential spokesman had on July 20, 2024, claimed in his X handle @aonanuga1956 that: “ Peter Obi’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria and that Obi should be held responsible for anarchy.”
Onanuga’s post was tagged, “Revealed: Peter Obi’s supporters are the people planning mayhem in Nigeria. Obi should be held responsible for anarchy.”
With additional reports from the Vanguard