The minority caucus of the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to engage in dialogue with Nigerians planning protests next week over the country’s economic challenges.
Despite acknowledging the protesters’ grievances, the caucus also urged the organizers to reconsider their plans due to the current security situation in the country.
Kingsley Chinda, the minority leader, speaking on behalf of the opposition lawmakers after their meeting in Abuja, urged the government to address the economic challenges and engage with the protesters’ concerns.
“We appeal to the government to dialogue with the planned protesters and consider the critical issues they are raising, requiring government intervention. The government should ensure that these issues are resolved amicably,” Chinda said.
He added, “We are not encouraging any protests because we have seen in the past that even peaceful protests can be hijacked by hoodlums. With the current insecurity in some parts of the country, controlling large gatherings may be challenging, and unscrupulous individuals might exploit the situation to create chaos.”
Chinda emphasized the importance of government dialogue and addressing critical areas of concern to prevent protests. “We discourage any protests but appeal to the government to engage in dialogue and address necessary issues amicably,” he said.
The minority leader also highlighted the country’s insecurity and called on the government to take a balanced approach to ensure Nigerians’ safety. “We call on the government to use both carrot and stick strategies to achieve visible results. All security chiefs must do what is necessary to protect Nigerians.”
Chinda further noted the widespread hunger in the country and urged the government to go beyond providing palliatives. “We acknowledge the hunger in the land and appeal to the government to create ways for people to become self-reliant,” he added.
