Some concerned elders have pleaded with those spearheading the proposed national protests by youths to have a rethink.
The concerned elders, drawn from the North and the South made their appeal under the aegis of Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria, CNPDN.
The said protests under the hashtag, #EndBadGovernance, are slated for August 1 to 10, to protest against harsh economic conditions in the country as a result of the removal of the subsidy on fuel price and floating of the Naira, resulting in high cost of foods and other essentials of life.
However, the CNPDN in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr Ralpheal Okorie, pleaded with the youth to heed the appeal of President Bola Tinubu to shelve the nationwide protests.
The elders posited that no meaningful progress is ever recorded through violent protests, expressing worry that the protests could be hijacked by hoodlums and miscreants and turn the exercise into violent uprisings.
“On planned nationwide protests, we have called on the conveners of the planned protest to stop it and that protests all over the world have never been used to solve a problem,” the statement read in part.
“The situation in Nigeria is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, and it is a global nature. We are using this medium to advise our teeming youth not to join in the protest because protests of this nature will naturally be hijacked by miscreants.
“The real intention will not be achieved. Again, we also want to call on Mr President to address the nation if possible to calm frayed nerves, knowing that he has the best of intentions for our dear country.”