Planned National Protest Politically Motivated – Says FCT Minister, Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has characterized the forthcoming national protest scheduled for August 1 as being politically motivated.

The FCT Minister asserted this on Tuesday during an inspection tour of the Apo Karshi Road in Abuja.

According to him, the planned mega demonstration is intended to shift the focus of the Nigerian populace away from the initiatives undertaken by the administration led by President Bola Tinubu.

The former Governor of Rivers State called upon the citizens of Nigeria to exercise patience as the Federal Government is actively engaged in devising strategies to alleviate the suffering of the populace.

Expanding on his remarks, the minister also extended a seven-month deadline to the contractors engaged in the construction of the Apo-Karshi Road project.

Wike expressed dissatisfaction with the sluggish progress of the road construction and suggested that the delay may be attributed to individuals with personal and political interests.

He revealed that 80% of the contract’s awarded amount has been disbursed, and there is no valid reason for the project’s unfinished status.

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The Apo-Karshi Road project, which was awarded in 2011 under the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, was estimated to cost approximately N6 billion.

Despite being completed over a decade later, the project, which spans over 13 kilometres, remains unfinished.

THERE IS NO NEED, SHELVE PLANNED PROTEST – TINUBU APPEALS TO NIGERIANS

In a recent development, President Bola Tinubu has issued a call for reflection among the Nigerian populace regarding an upcoming protest titled ‘EndBadGovernance,’ slated for the forthcoming month.
This directive was communicated during a briefing session with State House correspondents by Information Minister Mohammed Idris on Tuesday.

Idris delivered the President’s stance on the matter, articulating, “The President does not perceive the necessity for the execution of the planned protest. He has directed the organizers to postpone this initiative and to patiently await the government’s response to their appeals.”

The protest, which has garnered considerable attention on various social media platforms, is set to take place across all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August.

This initiative, spearheaded by unidentified groups, seeks to address the economic challenges encountered by the Nigerian populace.
The economic downturn has been intensified by the government’s recent policy decisions, notably the elimination of petrol subsidies and the consolidation of forex windows.

President Tinubu’s appeal is made in the midst of a severe inflation crisis, characterized by a significant increase in the prices of essential food items and commodities, marking one of the most severe inflation episodes in the nation’s history.