By Williams Anuku Moves to avert a planned protest over economic hardship being faced by citizens may have prompted a meeting betwee...
By Williams Anuku
Moves to avert a planned protest over economic hardship
being faced by citizens may have prompted a meeting between President Bola
Tinubu and traditional rulers from across the country at the State House,
Abuja.
The meeting is being held after the President’s meeting with
the Progressive Governors’ Forum, PGF, also in the villa.
The monarchs, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad
Abubakar III and the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, arrived at the
Forecourt of the State House in a single bus which conveyed them for the
meeting in the Presidential Villa.
No details could be confirmed before the commencement of the
closed-door session, but multiple sources say that the meeting is in connection
with the desperate moves by the administration to appease those planning to
protest over the prevailing untoward situation in the country.
Recall that ahead of the August 1 hunger protests in
Nigeria, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) had initiated
consultations and instructed its 104 affiliated youth organisations to remain
on standby.
NYCN in a statement said “We recognise the challenges faced
by our country and the need for urgent action to address these issues. As we
prepare to address the nation, we call on all stakeholders to support our
efforts and to work together towards a better Nigeria.”
This is just as a group representing the Rebuild Arewa
Initiative for Development (RAID) has warned against plans to stage a protest
against President Bola Tinubu, urging those involved to refrain from taking
actions that could destabilise the country.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima; the National
Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; and the Minister of Budget and
Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, also joined President Tinubu at the meeting
ostensibly to stem the planned protest.
Also seen among those called for the meeting were the
Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor AbdulRahman
AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, and the Chairman of the Progressive Governors’
Forum, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
More details later…
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