As calls for a nationwide protest against bad governance in Nigeria gather momentum, a flurry of meetings by multiple stakeholders are being held across the country appealing to the protesters to shelve their plans and allow the government some time to attend to their demands.

Some groups of persons have announced plans to hold a ten-day nationwide protest against the high cost of living and economic hardship from August 1st to August 10th. They have embarked on massive mobilisation deploying social media and using varied hashtags #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria., #EndbadgovernmentinNigeria, and so on.

The government has not rested on its oars since the announcements with President Bola Tinubu appealing to the youth for patience while assuring them that some of their demands are being attended to already. There have been other moves by the federal government, the presidency, and the state governors to douse the tension and convince the intending protesters to halt and abandon their planned protests and give the government more time to address their concerns.

However, the protest organizers have given no audience to the authority as they continue to publicise their intention to agitate. As a result, the government, top individuals, and security apparatus have had separate meetings on how to contain the looming agitation in the country.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday after a meeting of the Ministers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammad Idris, appealed to the protesters to consider reversing their stands, adding that the government is bothered about the protest because it could lead to violence as experienced in other parts of the world.

“Why everybody is very cautious and very weary of this national protest is because we have seen what has happened around the world. We know that it’s almost impossible to hold this protest and then have peace at the end of the day. We cannot do that because some people are waiting to take the laws into their own hands.

“You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in the freedom of everyone within the confines of the law to do what he thinks is right for him. Therefore, the president is not an opponent of protests of any kind. But the president is an opponent of violence and anything that will hamper the wellbeing of Nigerians”, he said.

President Tinubu Meets with Traditional Rulers, APC Governors
On Thursday, President Tinubu had a closed-door meeting with traditional rulers at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, for an urgent discussion that was not unconnected to the impending nationwide protest. The meeting was attended by a delegation of traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as well as Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The President also met with All Progressives Congress governors also known as the Progressive Governors Forum to explore ways to avert the protests across the country.

NGF Commits to Improved Security
Aside from the APC governors’ meeting, the Nigerian Governors Forum met on Wednesday night and concluded early Thursday in Abuja, where they reiterated their commitment to improving the country’s security challenges ahead of the agitation.

In their communique, the governors urged the government to take immediate action as protests loom across the country. According to the communiqué, “The NGF received a briefing from the National Security Adviser’s (NSA) office on the country’s current security situation. The NSA noted the growing momentum for a planned protest demanding government attention.

“The NSA is committed to supporting the governors in improving security architecture at the subnational level. The governors thanked the NSA and reinstated their commitment to enhance the security of lives and properties at the subnational level.”

DHQ Warns of Potential Violence, Fears Protest May Replicate Kenya’s
The Defence Headquarters has also called for a halt to the planned protest, citing the recent agitation in Kenya, in which young people launched peaceful protests against tax hikes but turned violent.

Speaking with reporters today in Abuja, Maj Gen Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, predicted that some unscrupulous persons would take advantage of the planned nationwide protest, according to intelligence at their disposal.

He stated, “The aim of the protest is to show you what is happening in Kenya. I would add that what is happening in Kenya in terms of the protest, one, is violence. Two, it remains unresolved as we speak now “So did you see from that? And based on what has been gathered, there are plans by some unscrupulous elements to hijack this protest and make sure that it turns violent. When it turns violent, I want to tell you what we have seen as it would likely happen.

“For instance, there are signs of status-related violence such that persons with things as basic as a smartphone and car are targets. This does not leave out those who own a house, shop, or even use air conditioners in their houses.

“Other targets include; places of worship, businesses, markets, persons of other ethnic groups and members of opposing political parties among others. Believe me, when this happens, it is nothing but a state of anarchy, lawlessness.”