THE ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused opposition political parties of instigating the protests that rocked Niger and Kano states on Monday, February 6 over hardships and high cost of living to give the impression that the administration of President Bola Tinubu was under-performing.
Recall that protests were reported in Niger State on Monday as some youths and women kicked against what they perceived as mass purchase of food items for hoarding and export outside the country.
This was just as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), in a statement by its senate president, Mr. Akinteye Babatunde, threatened to embark on street protests if the Federal Government failed to address the surging rate of inflation that has impoverished many Nigerians, especially students, across the country.
There have also been increased cases of kidnapping for ransom and killing of victims in different parts of the country in recent times, with some familes paying huge sums of money to secure the release of their lovesd ones.
But in a reaction to the protests, APC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka, in a statement on Tuesday, February 6, advised Nigerians to be vigilant and not gullible to the attempt by the opposition to promote social strife by its incendiary rhetoric and manipulative plots.
He stated: “In its arrant desperation to portray the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration as under-performing, opposition parties have resorted to instigating unsuspecting young people to protests in the streets of some major cities.
“The protests in Minna and Kano on Monday were the manifestation of this devious and unpatriotic plot. That the protests happened simultaneously in both cities is not coincidental. It bears a bold stamp of an orchestrated and coordinated effort to instigate unrest and undermine the government. This mercenary opposition tactic is a clear and present threat to public peace and national security.
“While we recognise the right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest, we urge our good people to be vigilant and not lend themselves to the treacherous attempt by the opposition to promote social strife by its incendiary rhetoric and manipulative plots.
“The President Bola Tinubu-led administration is solidly committed to doing everything in its power to mitigate the transient pains of critically important reforms that are crucial to economic recovery and sustainable prosperity for all Nigerians.
“It behoves us as good citizens of our beloved country to stand fast with our government in this noble stride. In due time, these policy reforms will yield enduring beneficial transformation of the material conditions of life in the country.
“We implore Nigerians to shun the guile and unpatriotic attempt by opposition elements to destabilize the country for their own base and parochial political gains.”
