The special adviser to the president on Senate matters, Senator Basheer Lado, has said the prompt signing of the Minimum Wage Act (Amendment) Bill into law by President Bola Tinubu is both a promise kept and a demonstration of his love for Nigerian workers.

In a statement, Lado said: “The signing of the minimum wage bill into law by his Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is both a promise kept and a demonstration of his people-centric governance model.
“Tinubu promised to pay a living wage to Nigerian workers during his electioneering campaigns, and he has kept that promise.

“He did not stop there; he ensured that there is a provision in the Minimum Wage Act that now makes it mandatory to review the national minimum wage every three years as against five years in the amended Act.
“This shows that workers’ take-home pay will continue to take them home under the present administration.”

He commended President Tinubu for keeping his promise to pay Nigerian workers a living wage, which became a reality just a little over one year after his administration in office.

“The president deserves the commendation of all for staying true to his promise,” Lado said.

Lado commended Nigerian workers for their resilience and contribution to nation building over the years and urged them to redouble their efforts to deliver effective services for the betterment of the citizenry.

He also commended the organised labour movement in the country led by the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) president, Comrade Festus Osifo, for their painstaking, mature and peaceful negotiations that led to the over 100 percent increase in workers’ wages from N30,000.00 to N70,000.00 by President Tinubu.

Lado further lauded all members of the 10th National Assembly, ably led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abass, for their swift passage of the Minimum Wage Bill, which has now been assented to by the president.

He noted that their dedication to the cause of the Nigerian workers and unflinching support for the people-oriented policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration mark them out as a patriotic lot with nationalistic zeal to ensure the welfare of Nigerians since 1999.

He commended the leadership of the Organised Private Sector and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for keying into the president’s vision for an enhanced pay package for Nigerian workers in agreeing to pay workers the new minimum wage.

He assured workers in particular and Nigerians in general that the empathy, love and care already demonstrated by the President in ensuring the overall welfare of Nigeria in the last year is just the
tip of the iceberg compared to when the many economic policies he has initiated take root and bear fruit.

 [Leadership]

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday, urged youth and other aggrieved Nigerians to shelve their planned protest, saying their grievances were being addressed.

Some individuals have mobilised to start a protest tagged #EndBadGovernance beginning from August 1.

As the plan gathers momentum, the federal government, its agencies and the security establishment have been calling for restraint, even as regional and religious groups have also called on citizens to give the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration more time to address their grievances.

Addressing reporters after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the information minister said: “While you are thinking of protesting, government is appealing to you to first shelve it because it has the great likelihood that this protest may be hijacked and may turn violent by unscrupulous elements, and Nigeria will not be good for it.

“Of course, we know that people are saying that there is no intention for violence in this, but our history has shown that there is the possibility that this protest can be hijacked and could turn violent.

“The president is already protesting on their behalf by doing those things that they want a government to do. For example, the effort that government is making in ensuring that food is being made available. The last council meeting here at the briefing, we announced that a number of trucks, 20 precisely, had been given to the state governors for onward distribution to the poorest of the poor in society and those who are actually in need.

“Government did not stop; there is also rice that is being sold at about 50 per cent of its cost, a bag of rice is being sold as we speak now. This rice has been taken to various centres across all the states of the federation, and is being sold at N40,000. Centres have been created so that those who need this rice can go there and buy.

“In the first instance, about 10 trucks have been made available to each of these states and indeed, this is just the beginning. I know that some of the comments you hear is that it is never enough. Government has not pretended that these supplies are indeed enough. But these are necessary first steps that are being made and more of such interventions are being made in the interim. Of course, this is like I said an interim measure because there is so much investment that is going into the agricultural sector”, he said.

Remain on campus, FG tells students

The federal government also on Monday asked students in tertiary institutions to remain on campus and focus on their academic pursuits.

In a letter to the universities, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, advised students in Nigerian universities to remain on campus during the planned nationwide protests to avoid risking their lives.

The minister, through the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, made this known in a letter addressed to vice-chancellors of universities in the wake of the planned protests slated for August 1 to 10, 2024.

The letter read: “The Honourable Minister of Education has directed that the attention of vice-chancellors of all Nigerian universities be formally drawn to the plan by unknown groups to embark on nationwide protests.

“The federal government is not unaware of the right of any Nigerian to peaceful protest, but is concerned about the safety of staff, students, and university property should there be any protest action.

“Consequently, the Honourable Minister has directed that vice-chancellors of all Nigerian universities should take proactive steps to ensure the security and safety of the university community, including staff and students.

“In addition, vice-chancellors are to please issue specific statements to assure staff and students of their safety. It is also advisable that students remain on campus to focus on their academic pursuits to avoid exposure to any potential danger during the planned protests.”

Senators, Reps to hold emergency sessions

Also in relation to the planned protest, the two chambers of the National Assembly will convene emergency sessions tomorrow.

The Clerk of the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Yahaya Danzaria, announced this in separate internal memos on Monday.

The National Assembly members had recently started their annual recess, originally set to resume on September 17.

This is as Senate President Godswill Akpabio said while individuals have the right to protest, they do not have the right to destabilise the country.

He accused politicians who lost in the 2023 general elections of being behind the planned protest in an attempt to take over the government through the backdoor.

He spoke during the signing of the new Minimum Wage bill by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

EFCC begins probe

Meanwhile, it was revealed on Monday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations into the bank accounts of some individuals and organisations sponsoring the protest, an official disclosed this to Daily Trust.

“Details of those sponsoring the planned nationwide protest slated to begin on Thursday have been fully acquired,” the official said, speaking anonymously.

“We have begun investigations on them in earnest. We want to know the real intention of why some monies were sent into those bank accounts”, the source said.

Protest not solution– Defence Chief

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, on Monday urged the youth to refrain from participating in the protest.

He spoke on the Hausa radio programme “Barka da Warhaka,” broadcast on Freedom Radio station in Kaduna, as monitored by one of our correspondents.

He reminded the youth of a foreign country’s failed prediction in 2015 that Nigeria would cease to exist, cautioning them against allowing such nations and others to exploit protests to undermine Nigeria.

Security agencies in show of force nationwide

Daily Trust reports that security operatives were yesterday engaged in a show of force in Abuja and other major cities across the country ahead of the planned August protest against hardship.

This is just as some protesters yesterday blocked the Kaduna-Abuja highway that passes through Niger State.

Also on Monday, police and military officers, including Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel, were stationed at the entrance to the National Assembly complex and Eagle Square in Abuja, where protesters  plan to gather.

Meanwhile, some commuters on the Keffi-Abuja expressway were left stranded on Monday as military officers conducted stop-and-search operations on vehicles entering the nation’s capital.

Daily Trust also observed a significant security build-up at other entry points to Abuja city centre. Military checkpoints that were earlier dismantled returned, with the deployment of more soldiers, as well as gadgets, like armour tanks. There was a heavy security presence in some parts of Lagos, Ondo and Benue states too, with policemen stationed along major highways.

Police spokesperson in Benue, Catherine Anene, said the increased police visibility on the streets of Makurdi was intended to deter troublemakers, not to intimidate law-abiding citizens.

Earlier on Monday, the protesters in Niger State carried placards and marched through the road linking Kaduna and Abuja, chanting anti-government slogans.

The police spokesperson in Niger State, Wasiu Abiodun, said police operatives swiftly dispersed the protesters after they were sighted.

Abiodun, in a statement, said, “Some boys were sighted along Kaduna Road in Suleja (local government area) attempting to block the road. The Area Commander Suleja swiftly moved with his team to the scene, and the boys were dispersed peacefully.”

Boko Haram plans to infiltrate protest – Police

In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police in Yobe State, Ahmed Garba, on Monday, warned that Boko Haram insurgents were planning to infiltrate the planned nationwide protest in the state.

Represented by DSP Dungus Abdulkarim at a youth stakeholders meeting and symposium in Damaturu, the state capital, Garba revealed that intelligence suggests foreign mercenaries have been hired to disrupt the protest and cause harm.

He noted that recent insurgent activities, including an IED explosion in Gujba LGA, had heightened concerns.

IGP orders protection for genuine protesters

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Monday, directed police officers nationwide to protect genuine protesters participating in the upcoming demonstrations against economic hardship. The directive was issued in a letter dated July 29, 2024, signed by his Principal Staff Officer, Commissioner of Police Johnson Adenola, in response to a request from human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.

Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had earlier sought police protection for hunger protesters.

In a statement by the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP said Nigeria cannot afford violent protests due to their severe negative impact on society.

NSCDC to deploy 30,000 personnel across Nigeria

The Commandant-General of the NSCDC, Abubakar Ahmed Audi, said the corps would deploy 30,000 personnel across Nigeria to protect critical national assets and infrastructure during the protest.

He spoke during the opening session of his meeting with Commandants and Zonal Commandants of the Corps at the NSCDC national headquarters in Abuja, on Monday.

Audi said criminals were planning to hijack the protest and unleash mayhem on innocent Nigerians as well as national assets and critical infrastructures.

Afenifere warns against Kenya’s experience

The pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, on Monday, kicked against the planned protest in the country, warning Nigerians against the experience in Kenya.

In a statement, Afenifere said the people have the right to vent their grievances at the government but noted that the #EndBadGovernance protests were taking a clear sinister dimension against President Tinubu’s government.

The group, in the statement signed by its national organising secretary, Kole Omololu, urged securities agencies to safeguard the lives of the citizens from hoodlums and anarchists from unleashing destruction on the nation during the protest.

Traders hire vigilantes, hunters to guard shops in Jos

Traders and warehouse owners in Jos, Plateau State, on Monday, enlisted the help of vigilantes, neighbourhood watch groups and other local security outfits to safeguard their shops and businesses.

This was in response to fears of looting during the nationwide protest.

Alhaji Jamilu Kabiru, Chairman of Kasuwan Dare, a section of the Yankwalli market, said the decision to hire additional security followed rumours that hoodlums might target the market during the protests.

[DailyTrust]

Oil and gas experts have said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent order to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on sale of crude oil in Naira to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries will not end the 650,000 barrel per day refinery’s challenges in the sector.

DAILY POST reports that in a major decision on Monday at the Federal Executive Council, Tinubu approved NNPCL to sell crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in Naira.

The move was aimed at ending the crude crisis being experienced by local refineries.

Recall in the last months, Dangote Refinery has continued to lament the crude oil supply crisis and other challenges experienced in Nigeria’s oil sector.

This is as it approached the US and Brazil for crude import despite Nigeria being Africa’s largest crude producer.

Dangote Refinery had accused International Oil Companies in Nigeria of sabotage over the supply crisis. The company later had a dispute with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority over regulatory compliance.

As the crisis raged, the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, alleged that NNPCL officials own a blending plant in Malta, a southern European island.

However, on Monday, Tinubu ordered NNPCL to sell crude in Naira to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga disclosed this in a statement on his X account.

Onanuga said the move was to ensure the stability of the pump price of refined fuel and the dollar-naira exchange rate.

Accordingly, he said the country’s 450,000 barrels of crude meant for domestic consumption should be sold in Naira to Nigerian refineries with Dangote Refinery as a pilot.

This becomes expedited as “Dangote refinery currently requires about 15 cargoes of crude oil at about $13.5bn yearly. NNPC has committed to supply four”, he said.

In a further analysis of the development, the President’s Special Adviser on Revenue, Mr. Zacch Adedeji, who also serves as Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, said Monday’s move mitigates Nigeria’s heavy reliance on foreign exchange for crude oil imports, accounting for roughly 30 to 40 percent of its forex expenditure.

According to him, the decision will save the country an estimated annual savings of $7.3 billion and will reduce monthly forex expenditure on petroleum products by an estimated $660 million.

“Monthly, we spend roughly $660m in these exercises, and if you analyze that, that will give us $7.92bn savings annually,” he stated

Meanwhile, experts within the oil sector have expressed divergent views on the implications of Tinubu’s order and its impact on the Nigerian economy.

Experts React

The Managing Partner, BBH Consulting and Convener, Public Interest Advocacy Network, PIAN, Barr. Ameh Madaki believes that Tinubu’s order on crude oil sale in Naira will not solve Dangote Refinery’s crisis.

He said this was because the country had no spare crude oil to sell to any refinery.

According to him, the crude oil forward sale contracts secured for Nigeria by NNPCL meant that there was barely any production from the current 1.2 million barrels per day to sell to local refineries.

Ameh said the best way out was to sell the crude oil for domestic consumption at the wellhead cost of production.

“It will not solve the Dangote Refinery’s crisis. Because the country had no spare crude oil to sell to any refinery. With all their forward sale contracts, there is barely any production from the current 1.2 million barrels a day to sell to anyone.

“The only policy which will make some sense is to sell the crude oil for domestic consumption at the wellhead cost of production.

“Otherwise, we will be chasing shadows and people will be pocketing millions of dollars in fraudulent subsidy payments”, he told DAILY POST.

Similarly, an energy expert, Joseph Eleojo said: “Where is NNPCL getting the crude to sell to Dangote and other refineries from? This goes to tell Nigerians why the local refineries have not worked for 35 years.

“The decision to sell crude to Dangote in Naira is a wonderful decision as it will lessen the pressure on Dangote and the other refineries from sourcing FX to buy crude.

“Nigerians should not expect drastic price discounts because crude oil is sold to the local refineries in Naira”.

Meanwhile, Group Chairman of International Energy Services Limited, Dr Diran Fawibe said Tinubu’s decision to allow crude oil sale in Naira to Dangote Refinery will help the refinery to price its product properly.

He said that the indirect impact of the decision will reduce pressure on the Naira and importation of fuel.

“It is a good decision on the part of the Federal Executive Council and the President.

“About 300,000 to 400,000 bpd has been allocated to domestic, which has been the case for many years based on the capacity of Nigeria’s refineries. It makes a lot of sense to approve crude oil sales to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in Naira.

“This will assist the refinery to price its product properly for the benefit of Nigeria. Hitherto, crude has not been sold in Naira.

“The indirect benefit is that petrol import with the operation of Dangote Refinery will be reduced. Similarly, the FX used for fuel import will be reduced to a reasonable extent.

“This will benefit the FX market. You can imagine if there is no fuel in the country, even the queue we are currently experiencing may reduce. I expect that a Naira crude oil price regime will impact sustainable product pricing in Nigeria and stem the importation of fuel”, he said.

On his part, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE, said the decision will ease the current pressure on petroleum products pricing in Nigeria.

However, Muda noted that the major challenge may be the capacity of NNPCL to supply the crude.

“This is surely a welcome development and will go a long way to easing the current pressure of pricing of Petroleum products in Nigeria, especially given the capacity of Dangote Refinery.

“The major challenge now is the capacity of NNPCL to supply the crude. It is one thing to give a liberal payment condition (that is paying for the crude in Naira), it is another thing to make the crude available.

“I think this remains a major challenge. If the NNPCL can make the crude available for Dangote refinery and other local refineries, it will be a great idea.

“The benefits will be transmitted to the citizens in terms of more supply of petroleum products, and moderation in the price of the product.

“Because we are in a situation where we worry about the cost of living, social stability, economic development, and the issue of production; in all these things, access to energy is central. It is paramount that NNPCL can provide the crude”, he told DAILY POST.

[DailyPost]

The National Industrial Court, Lagos Division, has ordered Ecobank Nigeria Limited to pay N1, 086,611,589.11  to 1,742 ex-staff of Oceanic Bank who were denied their entitlements.

Justice R. A. Gwandu gave the order in a judgment in suit NIC/LA /231/2012 filed by the former employees of defunct Oceanic Bank, which merged with Ecobank  Bank Limited in 2012.

Babajide Bayode, Yemisi Adesote, Adeboyejo Oladimeji, Seun Aina, Yusuf Kadiri, Segun Alasan, Adetayo Familugba and Lolade Olaribigbe sued for themselves and as representatives of 1,733 other ex-employees.

The representative action suit was filed by their counsel Mr Nwabu Okoye.

They sought “an order directing  Ecobank Nigeria Limited to pay the outstanding sum of N1,146,470,393,.62 being the sum total of their savings in the Staff Savings Investment Trust Fund, SSITF, scheme contributed by 1742 ex-employees of  Oceanic Bank made up of those transfered to Ecobank upon merger of the two banks through the merger of February 15, 2012, and those whose employment were determined before or upon the said merger which remain unpaid till date”.

The claimants said the amount outstanding as their contributions to the SSITF scheme, which the defendant (Ecobank) refused to pay to date, stands at N926,901,065,.60.

Justice Gwandu dismissed the bank’s counter-claim on the ground that it failed to put credible evidence before the court.

The judge held that upon the consummation of the merger, Ecobank fully acquired all the assets and liabilities of Oceanic Bank and could not repudiate or push some of the liabilities on its employees, more so when it was the bank that was in control of the SSITF scheme.

The judge held that Ecobank cannot deny that there were contributions to the  SSITF or show evidence that the claimants were paid the sum they claim.

“I therefore, hold that the claimants have proved their case and are entitled to the payment of the sum of N926,901,065.60 being the sum total in the account of the  Staff Savings Investment Trust Fund being contributions of 1,742 ex-employees of Oceanic Bank made up of those transferred to Ecobank upon the merger and whose contract of employment were determined on February 15, 2012 and those whose employment otherwise were determined before or upon the merger,” Justice Gwandu held.

On unpaid gratuities, the judge held: “I hold that the defendants are liable to the claimants in the sum of N159,710,523.51 being the total sum due on the basis of years of service of the employees.”

The claimants had also asked for an order directing Ecobank to pay the sum of N159,710,523.51, being the total sum due as gratuities to 48 of the claimants and another sum of N59, 858,804.51 being the short payments of severance or redundancy paid by the defendant to 74 of them.

The court was further asked to grant an order directing the bank to pay 22 per cent interest per annum on the sums of money being claimed from February 15, 2012, until judgment and thereafter at the rate of 12 per cent per annum until the liquidation of the judgment sum.

Ecobank through its lawyer, S.C. Arubike filed a statement of defense to the suit as well as counter-claim.

It demanded N967,529,765.38 being the excess of severance and or redundance benefits paid to the ex-staff of Oceanic Bank, at 24 per cent interest from October 30, 2014, until any judgment is delivered in its favour and interest of 10 per cent until fully liquidated.

Justice Gwandu refused the plaintiffs’ claim of N59,858,804.51 being the total sum of short payment of severance or redundancy package paid by Ecobank to 74 of the claimants.

The judge said it would be unfair for the court to hold Ecobank responsible for any lapses that may have occurred under the agreement brokered by ASSBIFI since some of the ex-staff benefitted under the agreement and are happy under the same agreement moreso the intervention of ASSBIFI had the consent of the ex-staff.

The court granted 10 per cent interest on the judgment sum from 30 days after the judgment was delivered till it was fully liquidated.

[TheNation]

William Calley, a former US Army lieutenant convicted of war crimes in a Vietnam-era tragedy called the My Lai massacre, has died at age 80, a US newspaper reported Monday.

The Washington Post said Calley died on April 28 in Gainesville, Florida, but his death had not been publicized until a recent public records search.

In 1971, Calley became the only member of the US Army found guilty of war crimes over the My Lai massacre, one of the darkest chapters in US military history.

It occurred on March 16, 1968, when Calley’s brigade entered the village of My Lai based on faulty intelligence that enemy Viet Cong soldiers were disguised among the civilians there.

Calley, age 24 at the time, ordered soldiers to kill villagers even though they had found no evidence of enemy combatants.

The massacre involved the torture, rape and slaughter of hundreds of innocent Vietnamese.

The US Army covered up the events at My Lai for more than a year afterward.

The death toll of the massacre remains disputed, but US estimates place the number of dead between 347 and 504 unarmed civilians, most of whom were women, children or elderly men.

Pham Thanh Cong, a survivor of the massacre, expressed regret that Calley never returned to Vietnam before his death.

“Many other Americans returned to Son My,” the 67-year-old told AFP, using the Vietnamese term for the village.

“They came to pray, to ask for forgiveness from the souls of the dead, but Calley… he never came back.”

Cong was just 11 when his family was killed in front of him by American troops.

He was huddled with his mother, brother and sister in a bunker in his home when soldiers lobbed grenades at the family and shot at them with M-16s.

“He caused the death of many civilians, including my family,” said Cong, who ran a war memorial for the dead until his retirement.

“I regret that he did not return to Son My, witness its revival and the development of its people.”

– Convicted of murder –
Calley was later the subject of a high-profile court martial, during which he said he had been following the orders of his superiors.

Although 12 other military officers were charged with crimes related to the massacre — including the subsequent cover-up — all were eventually acquitted of criminal charges.

Calley was ultimately convicted of murdering 22 noncombatants and was sentenced to hard labour for life. But his sentence was commuted days later by then-President Richard Nixon and he was eventually released after serving three years of house arrest.

After his release, Calley settled in Columbus, Georgia, where he remained in obscurity for most of his life.

In 2009, a local newspaper reported on a speech Calley gave at the Kiwanis Club of Greater Columbus, during which he apologised for his role in the massacre.

“There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel remorse for what happened that day in My Lai,” Calley said.

“I feel remorse for the Vietnamese who were killed, for their families, for the American soldiers involved and their families. I am very sorry.”

AFP

Just slightly over a week ago, the political landscape in the United States went 180 degrees with the announcement by President Joe Biden that he was withdrawing from the presidential race. Before then, Biden had been recalcitrant that he would not withdraw from the race. He insisted that he was strong and healthy and was the only person who could defeat the Republican candidate, Donald Trump.

Even though Biden had given the American public many signs that indicated that he was mentally and physically unfit for the job, it was during the first presidential debate that his shortcomings became indisputable. Biden spoke in a raspy voice without any force. He looked feeble. But that was not all. He regularly lost his train of thought and mixed up the names of people and incidents. Even his opponent at that debate, Trump, had occasions when he was surprised at the lack of coherence in what Biden was saying. At a point in the debate, Trump said, while responding to an answer Biden gave to the moderators: “I really don’t know what he said at the end of that sentence, and I don’t think he did, either.”

Biden’s performance was embarrassing. Opinion polls showed that Trump was widening the gap between them. Many Democrats, including legislators, began to openly ask him to withdraw from the race and save the party from not just losing the presidency but also losing some of their strongholds in Congress to Republicans and becoming weakened. To show their seriousness, many sponsors of the party withdrew their support.

But the more Democrats asked Biden to withdraw, the more he said no and insisted that he was the person who could defeat Trump just as he did in 2020. The Democratic Party was divided and confused. The morale of members was low. Their case was worsened by the fact that Biden was (and still is) an incumbent president. As a result, he did not face any strong challenge for the ticket of the party earlier this year.

Another factor – not usually publicly discussed – was the fact that Biden’s deputy, Vice President Kamala Harris, is a woman as well as a person of non-White race. Despite the high level of human rights in the United States, it has never elected a woman. It took America 232 years to elect a non-White person in 2008 in the person of Barack Obama. And it was because Obama had an amazing personality and showed exceptional promise with no bad story associated with him. It would be disastrous to sideline Harris because of her gender and race to pick a White male as Biden’s replacement at the polls. But with less than four months to the presidential election, even if Harris became the candidate of the Democratic Party, it was not obvious whether she could make any impact.

Conversely, the Republican Party was upbeat. The morale of members was high. The missed assassination attempt on Trump some weeks ago drew him sympathy and helped to shoot up his rating. At the Republican Party’s convention, where Trump was officially confirmed as the presidential candidate and where he named his running mate, the party was as united and confident as it had not been in many years. All polls showed that Trump was ahead. It was obvious that Trump would rout Biden in the presidential race in November.

Then on Sunday, July 21, Biden announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and support for Harris. Within 48 hours, the presidential bid of Kamala Harris received over $100 million in donations: a record. (Within one week, it raised $200 million). The Democratic Party was rejuvenated. Attention shifted from the Republicans to the Democrats.

The campaign dynamics also completely changed. Before that Sunday, Trump was the younger and healthier candidate, while Biden was the old and feeble candidate. That was meant to be the focal point of the campaign. Immediately after Biden’s announcement, Trump became the old candidate: the oldest candidate in American history to run for president. The Republicans would be forced to change their campaign message and focus. Opinion polls showed that Harris had gone narrowly ahead of Trump, even though it is still within the margin of error, which makes it an open game.

The Republicans believe that Trump will rescue the United States from the dangerous grip of Biden and the Democrats. The Democrats believe that Kamala Harris and the Democrats will save America from falling into the dangerous hands of Trump a second time.

Another thing that happened after Biden’s announcement was the resignation of the Director of the American Secret Service, Kimberly Cheatle. Since the attempt on Trump, Cheatle had vowed not to resign. Last week, she was grilled by Congress and both Democrats and Republicans tore her to shreds and told her to write her resignation letter immediately. She refused. But the next day, she resigned.

This is why warts and all, the United States is an exemplary and exciting democracy. The system is above everyone. One person does not decide what happens in the country. People take responsibility for any lapses under their watch. There is no room for excuses. If they refuse to do that, they are put under pressure until they do the right thing.

Biden is the president of the strongest country in the world. Therefore, he is the strongest president and individual in the world. But he had to succumb to the pressure from his party members to withdraw from the presidential race. The difference between the US and the Nigerian situation is that in cases like this, the Nigerian president would not resign. It happened when Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was ill. It happened when Muhammadu Buhari was also ill. It happened when Bola Tinubu was contesting for the presidency. Besides, there were many allies of theirs who came out and spoke strongly in their support, giving all kinds of reasons why their health situation was not an issue.

Another point is the importance Americans place on presidential debates. Any candidate who refuses to attend a presidential debate is seen as showing disrespect to the American populace. The presidential debate is the avenue through which the American people, as well as citizens of all developed countries, gauge the physical and mental acuity of those who wish to lead them. They use it to find out who seems prepared for leadership. But in Nigeria, politicians snub debates and all attempts to answer unscripted questions. Tinubu did not participate in any presidential debate before the 2023 election. Before him, Buhari did the same thing. Likewise, Goodluck Jonathan, Yar’Adua and Olusegun Obasanjo either avoided presidential debates or participated in the one they created. There were always people who defended them and argued that talking is not the same thing as leadership.

Nigeria copies most things from the US. The current presidential system of government which Nigeria practises was copied from the US after the First Republic failed and it was blamed on the British parliamentary system. The presidential system has not succeeded in delivering a reliable system that creates progress and stability. That proves that Nigeria’s governance failure has no connection with the system of government in place. The problem of Nigeria is that of a bad workman who continuously quarrels with his tools.

Nigeria does not copy the transparency that the American system is known for. It does not copy the proclivity of Americans to put the interest of the country before their personal and parochial interests. Resigning from positions is almost unthinkable. Individuals are most times above the law. This makes it difficult for democracy to produce the desired dividends that are associated with it. The only dividend of democracy that has accrued to Nigeria is the fact that no president has stayed in power for more than two terms like what obtains in countries like Russia, Rwanda, Cameroon, etc, which purport to practise democracy. Nigerians look forward to the time their politicians will start copying the good examples from the United States.

The Presidency has said Nigerians have the constitutional right to peaceful protest and no one can deny them this.

The declaration came on a day of pro-government protests, organised by statement chairmen of All Progressives Congress, APC rocked state capitals across the country and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The Federal Government is also said to be taking steps to placate youths in the country to stave off the protest slated for Thursday, August 1, billed to last for 10 days.

However, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, yesterday summoned the legal adviser to the organisers of the protest, Mr Ebun Olu-Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN, to a meeting at Force Headquarters in Abuja today over the August 1, nationwide protest.

The declaration came against the backdrop of calls across the country that the protest against hardship in the land should not hold for fear of its being hijacked by violent people.

This came as no fewer than 36 civil society organisations in the country also reaffirmed the fundamental rights of citizens to peaceful protest as a fundamental pillar of democratic governance.

This is even as one of the arrowheads of the planned protest and convener of Take-It-Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, said Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FECT, Nyesom Wike, has no right to deny organisers of the protest use of Eagle Square in Abuja, it being a public facility.

The minister had a weekend and threatened to stop the use of the facility unless organisers of the protest, slated for Thursday, August 1, applied officially for it.

Meanwhile, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday blamed the planned nationwide protest on politicians who lost the 2023 elections, alleging that they were intent on coming to power through the back door, just as the South-West Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, appealed to Nigerians that the present hardship will soon give way to meaningful livelihood for all and urged them to ignore the protest.

Ahead of the protest, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, yesterday directed all universities to make arrangements for the security and safety of staff, students and property.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, who stated the Presidency’s position in an interview on TVC late Sunday night, said no one has the right to stop peaceful protest in the country, adding that it is the power of protest that brought the return of democracy to Nigeria.

He said: “There is nobody within our administration that has the standing, the command, or the gravitas to tell Nigerians that they cannot peacefully protest and that they cannot peacefully protest in any part of the country.

“We are not in office to dominate our people, we are in office to serve our people. And this is the position of the president.

“President Bola Tinubu has been very clear that the notion of peaceful protest is a central component of an effective function in democracy.

“Anyone who disagrees with the notion from inside the government, the notion that we are here to serve our people and not dominate them, they are lining up themselves against the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who will defend the right of Nigerians to peaceful protest in any part of the country. And we want to be very unequivocal about that.”

Ngelale noted that there were legitimate concerns that the protest might turn violent but stressed that was not enough to stop a peaceful protest.

On fears that the protest might turn the way for the #EndSARS protest which result in the massive destruction of property, especially in Lagos, he said it was unfortunate that the great majority of the people suffered the actions of a few, noting that the people were also deprived of benefits of infrastructure destroyed during the protest.

He said the government would ensure those out to hijack the protest do not succeed.

Nigeria bids to placate youth to avert looming inflation protests

Also, days before the protest, the Federal Government, according to Reuters, is offering young people jobs in the state oil company and billions of naira worth of grants among other incentives to discourage the action.

Nigerian activists have been looking to emulate youth-led protests elsewhere in Africa which have rocked the government in Kenya and prompted a tough security response in Uganda.

Nigeria’s state oil firm, which seven years ago warned job seekers against falling prey to fraudulent messages about job placements in the company, published on Friday nationwide job vacancies in a post on X for the first time in nearly a decade.

An NNPC Ltd spokesperson said a flood of applications crashed the company’s website.
Nigeria’s ministry of Youth Development on Friday, also relaunched a N110 billion ($70 million) youth investment fund that was started in 2020, aimed at providing grants to Nigeria’s youth to generate jobs.

The youth ministry had said in May said it would revive the programme but little had been heard about it until Friday.

Nigerians are organising online nationwide protests this week in response to a cost of living crisis that has seen inflation rise to a 28-year-high of 34.2 per cent which followed President Bola Tinubu’s removal of fuel subsidies and a currency devaluation.

Religious clerics, traditional rulers and other prominent Nigerians have joined the government in discouraging young people from embarking on protests slated to begin on August 1, fearing Kenya-style protests will wreak havoc on the economy.

The government has sought more time to end hardships and both the police and army leadership have warned against the protests, saying they could get out of control.

Protesters have said they have a right to peaceful demonstrations, calling the government’s warnings of violence a smokescreen for a potential crackdown.

Protest: IGP summons Adegboruwa

Also yesterday, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun summoned Mr Ebun Olu-Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN, to a meeting at the Force Headquarters in Abuja today over the August 1, nationwide protest.

Adegboruwa had previously written to the IGP on July 26 seeking protection for members of the “Take-It-Back Movement,’ who are part of the civil society organizations taking part in the protest.

In response to Mr Adegboruwa’s request, the IGP through his Principal Staff Officer, CP Johnson Adenola, said the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of state commands across the country had been mandated to accede to his requests.

The letter read: ‘’I am to inform you that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request.

‘’I am to also inform you that the Inspector-General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to deliberate further on your request.”

Right to peaceful protest, pillar of democratic governance as constitutionally guaranteed
Similarly, civil society organisations, CSOs, have also the right of the people to peaceful protest.

In a statement jointly signed 36 CSOs, the groups said: ‘’This right is a cornerstone of any democratic society and a critical means for citizens to express their dissatisfaction, demand accountability, and advocate for change.

‘’Protesting is a legitimate form of expression enshrined in international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended), among others.

‘’It allows citizens to publicly voice their concerns, challenge injustices, and participate actively in the democratic process.

Protests serve as a vital mechanism for holding leaders accountable and ensuring that government actions reflect the will and needs of the people.

‘’History has shown that protests can lead to significant changes in government policies, processes and practices, highlighting the power of collective action to address grievances and promote good governance.

‘’While the right to protest is a fundamental principle of democratic nations, we concede that it must be exercised peacefully and responsibly without violating the rights of others. Accordingly, we urge all parties engaged, including protest organisers, participants, and law enforcement agencies, to prioritise safety and the rule of law.

‘’Law enforcement must safeguard protesters while upholding public order. Demonstrators must avoid activities that might exacerbate tensions, cause unrest or threaten public safety.
“Attempts to suppress demonstrations through intimidation, excessive use of force, or unjust legal actions are unacceptable and counter-productive.

‘’Every protest is deemed peaceful, and if intelligence indicates otherwise, it is the role of the appropriate government agencies to identify such saboteurs and arrest them immediately.
Arresting protest organisers shows a lack of understanding of the enemies of the state.

‘’We urge the Nigerian Judiciary and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to uphold the rights of all protesters and establish a mechanism to promptly address and dismiss oppressive charges that may arise from these protests.

‘’The demands include reducing the cost of living, curbing insecurity, reducing the cost of governance, electoral reform, judicial reform, and constitutional reform, which are all recurring themes in Nigeria’s journey towards a healthy democracy.

‘’We reaffirm our commitment to the principles of democracy and human rights and stand in solidarity with those who decided to exercise the right to peaceful protest.

‘’We encourage all citizens to actively participate in shaping a just and accountable society, and we call on all stakeholders to uphold the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

No going back on Eagle Square usage, protest campaigner tackles Wike

Similarly, one of the arrowheads of the planned protest has said the Eagle Square in Abuja is a public property and that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has no choice than to allow “hungry Nigerian youths” demonstrate their displeasure on the facility.

Damilare Adenola, the Director of Mobilisation of Take It Back Movement, a non-governmental organisation, stated this in an interview on Channels Television.

Adenola had signed a letter, dated July 26, 2024, addressed to the minister seeking the use of the facility.

However, the FCT minister said this weekend that he hadn’t received the letter, which non-delivery the activist blamed on bureaucratic bottlenecks in government but said the minister would get the letter unfailingly yesterday, ahead of the demonstration starting on Thursday.

The protest mobiliser said: “It is possible that the receipt of the letter is being delayed by most likely bureaucracy in government or the minister is likely being insincere about receiving the letter.

“If he (Wike) insists that he hasn’t received it, the alternative is that he was served by publication because many Nigerian ministries streamline what to receive or not. If he says he didn’t get it physically, then we could as well say that he was served by publication.

“The organisers of the protest are hungry Nigerians; they are a host of unemployed Nigerians, they are a host of hopeless Nigerians who are roaming the streets. They are the out-of-school children spread across the country.

‘’These are the organisers of the protest and the greatest motivation of this #EndBadGovernance protest is hunger. People are really hungry,” he said.

“This is the idea of battered Nigerian people, this is the idea of hungry Nigerian people, this is the idea of hopeless Nigerian people.

“Young people are tired and need to express their displeasure against government’s malfeasance.’’

NBA urges dialogue, warns against anarchy

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday called on the Federal Government, organisers, proponents and supporters of the planned nationwide protest to call off the protest, and come together for a frank discussion on what must be done to immediately begin to turn around the plight of the people for good.

In a statement, the outgoing President of the NBA, Mr Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, said mechanisms should be put in place for government and people’s engagement regularly.

He said: “This is not about protesters versus non-protesters, it is about our dear country Nigeria, and no more. There cannot be any interest greater than Nigeria. Truth is, we all are protesters in one way or the other.

“It is how we protest and where we express our protests that differ from person to person, or from one group of persons to the other. So, in essence, it is about all of us. I have also not set out to talk about the legality or otherwise of the planned protest.

‘’While the importance of conducting ourselves in a lawful and orderly manner cannot be overstated – representing our respect for the supremacy of the rule of law, my appeal is to our collective duty as Nigerians, to see to the peace and order in our country which is necessary to guarantee its existence.

“We must all remember that our individual and collective aspirations can only be realised if Nigeria remains in existence. Therefore, dissatisfied as we may be with the state of affairs, we must find reasons to exercise restraint/caution, by avoiding anything that could cost us our dear country.’’

Losers in 2023 polls behind planned protest — Akpabio

In a similar development, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, yesterday blamed the planned nationwide protest on politicians who lost the 2023 elections, alleging that they were intent on coming to power through the back door.

He stated this at the Presidential Villa Abuja, shortly after signing into law the new national minimum wage bill by President Bola Tinubu during yesterday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC.
While stressing the need for those behind the protest to abandon it, Akpabio appealed to the nation’s youths not to allow themselves to be used to destroy the country, highlighting the efforts of both the executive and the legislature to lessen hardship in the country.

He said: “People who probably do not have their fortunes in the 2023 election are thinking they can come through the back door and that will amount to anarchy.”

On the signing of the new minimum wage into law by President Tinubu, the Senate president said: “I’m ecstatic, I’m excited about the Nigerian worker and the national minimum wage amendment is for the whole nation; for the Federal Government, the states, the local governments, for the private sector, and even for individual employers.

“So, I think this is a great day for workers in the country. We are not only doubling the minimum wage, we have added something on top. Initially, it was N30,000, now it is N70,000.

“So, my appeal to the Nigerian youths is do not allow any group to mislead you politically. Any destruction of any property will cost Nigeria money. We don’t have the money. Instead, let’s put the money in developing you and developing your environment, instead of going to rebuild.’’

FG directs varsity VCs to secure staff, students, property

Ahead of the protest, the Minister of Education,Prof. Tahir Mamman, yesterday directed all universities to make arrangements for the security and safety of staff, students and property.
The minister specifically directed the National Universities Commission, NUC, to convey the directive to vice-chancellors of universities in a memo to the commission.

NUC Acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, conveyed the minister’s directive in a circular, marked:”NUC/ ES/138/Vol.38″, dated July 28, 2024.

It was captioned:” Urgent Arrangements for the Security and Safety of University Staff, Students and Property During The Proposed Nationwide Protests.”

The circular read:” The Honourable Minister of Education has directed that the attention of Vice-Chancellors of all Nigerian Universities be formally drawn to the plan by unknown groups to embark on nationwide protests.

“The Federal Government is not unaware of the right of any Nigerian to peaceful protest, but is concerned about the safety of staff, students and university property should there be any protest action.

“Consequently, the Honourable Minister has directed that Vice-Chancellors of all Nigerian Universities should take proactive steps to ensure the security and safety of the university community, including staff and students. In addition, Vice-Chancellors are to please issue specific statements to assure staff and students of their safety. It is also advisable that students remain on campus to focus on their academic pursuits so as to avoid exposure to any potential danger during the planned protests.”

Wike mobilises stakeholders against protests in Abuja

Also, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, has embarked on a series of troubleshooting meeting, mobilizing relevant stakeholders against joining the planned strike.

Wike, who had on Saturday met with religious, traditional, women and youth leaders, also met with youths from Abuja South Federal Constituency, in Kwali Area Council of the FCT weekend, said: “There is no need for the protest. The current administration is barely one year in office and not enough to assess its performance.

“You cannot judge leadership within one year. I have not been in office for up to a year, but I have done so much that should be appreciated and convince people that FCT is working.

“It is not fair to say we have not done anything on insecurity when we have improved security in FCT. We want peace in FCT and so, we cannot fold our arms and allow it to be destroyed in the guise of protest.’’

Don’t turn South West to theatre of war, hardship’ll soon give way- S/W APC leaders

Ahead of the protest, the Southwest Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, also yesterday appealed to Nigerians that the present hardship would soon give way to meaningful livelihood for all.

Rising from an emergency meeting of the party’s zonal executive committee in Akure, Ondo State, they appealed for caution and pleaded that Nigerians should be patient with the present administration.

In a communique signed by National Vice Chairman/ Chairman South West, Isaacs Kekemeke, and Zonal Secretary, Vincent Bewaji, the party, called on all South Westerners, both home and abroad, to refuse to allow the Southwest of Nigeria to be used as a theatre of war or centre of criminality via violent protests.

The communique read: “The party in the zone recognises that every Nigerian has a right under our Constitution to peaceful protest and expresses himself or herself over the programme(s) of government.
“The party in the zone notes the giant and monumental steps already taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to give a new socio-economic direction to Nigeria to ultimately ensure prosperity and abundance for all Nigerians.

“The Party in the zone further notes that, as to be expected, the monumental structural economic changes undertaken by the government have brought hardship to a great number of Nigerians. Members of the party in the Southwest are not insulated from the pains and hardship.

“The party, while acknowledging the right of all those who abode/live in the Southwest to peaceful protest, called on leaders of the Southwest, including traditional rulers, leaders of opposition parties, elites, union leaders, market women, students, and religious leaders in the Southwest to stand up and protect all socio-economic interests of the South West by ensuring that no violent protests of any sort are held in any part of the Southwest.’’

APC to organise counter-rallies, says it won’t allow election losers topple Tinubu

In relation, the forum of states chairmen of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, have declared their resolve to mobilize members of the party across wards, local councils, and states to organize nationwide solidarity rallies for President Bola Tinubu for the next two weeks, starting from July 29 to August 11.

The forum urged those planning to protest against the president to shelve the idea as security reports had uncovered plans by some partisans to hijack the protests in a bid to topple the administration.

Declaring that protests were legitimate in a democracy, the forum said the government would, however, not allow some persons who lost in the last general election to hijack the process to further their sinister objectives.

Speaking on behalf of the Forum, its Secretary and Chairman, APC Cross River State, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, said the protest would only worsen the current challenging socio-economic situation of the country.

He said the forum had become fully aware through public utterances of some persons that the protest was more political than the economic concerns earlier expressed.

Two-week counter rallies

“Against this background, in the next two weeks, commencing from today (yesterday), July 29 to August 11, 2024, and from this press briefing, we shall follow with a solidarity rally by all structures of our party across all political wards, LGAs and states capital, including Abuja, FCT.’’

[Vanguard]

All hell has been let loose, and the centre can no longer hold in Kenya over the tax revolt that has been ravaging that East African country since June. In the wake of the crisis, a part of the parliament building was razed down by arsonists. Some public buildings were touched while several companies and shops were destroyed and looted. Sensing their relative success in forcing the government to cancel the $ 2.7 billion in tax hikes, the mainly Gen-Z protesters are now calling for President William Ruto’s resignation.

The young people have succeeded in throwing Kenya into turmoil, and no one in that country can now sleep with their two eyes closed. The number of casualties has been on the rise in the ongoing protests. More than 50 people have been reported killed since June, according to Kenya’s National Commission on Human Rights.

The Kenyan violence and destruction are reminiscent of the October 2020 EndSARS protest in Nigeria. During that EndSARS protest, several police stations were burnt with some police officers beheaded. The gory video of cannibals eating flesh from the bodies of slain police officers is still chilling. There was a jailbreak, and hardened criminals were let free in Lagos, Benin, and Abuja prisons. Critical infrastructure owned by the Lagos State Government was destroyed. A notable television station, TVC, was razed down.

It is difficult to forget how a large number of luxury buses meant to power public transportation in Lagos were burnt and left in ruins. A friend recounted to me how a distraught Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was going through the ruins of the burnt buses at Oyingbo and tears began to cascade from his eyes over the multi-million dollar investment destroyed.

Such was the level of the destruction, the carnage, the investment gone in flames, the trauma and the uncertainty engendered by the protest. Those insisting on replicating the EndSARS protest in the country or reproducing the Kenyan moment in Nigeria do not mean well for the country and the people.
It may be argued that protesters have a right to register their displeasure about the state of the nation, particularly with the excruciating cost of living, even in spite of the government’s laudable economic policies and cushioning efforts, and this may be correct. However, the planned protest does not augur well for the country and our people. This is so for a number of reasons.

Firstly, given what transpired during that 2020 protest, there is no guarantee that any protest at this time would not turn violent or hijacked by hoodlums and other dodgy characters to foist their nefarious agenda on the country. This protest, which by most accounts is politically motivated, can only result in violence, arson and looting, as is characteristic of similar demonstrations in Nigeria and most parts of Africa. The Kenyan episode is also a case in point.
In the past, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as he then was, and other activists had deployed the instrumentality of non-violent protest or agitation to advance the democratic cause that led to the rebirth of democracy in the land, and to correct some imbalances in the operation of Nigeria’s federalism, particularly during the regime of President Obasanjo.

Secondly, the sponsors and promoters of this protest, christened #EndBadGovernance protest, remain yet unknown. They are faceless and yet unidentified persons. I glimpsed an online interview with SaharaReporters’s publisher, Omoyele Sowore, identifying and calling for the demonstration. Meanwhile, he and his family are in their safe harbour in New Jersey. That was the same way detained Nnamdi Kanu was giving orders from abroad, naming individuals and their properties to be destroyed in Lagos during the #EndSARS protest.

Thirdly, it’s being established that constructive dialogue is the key to resolving issues and thrashing any misgiving or disagreement, which is bound to occur in any society. When there is a conflict between governments and groups arising from policy issues and other matters, dialogue is always the best way to resolve such disputes. In spite of the remonstrations of organised labour over the national minimum wage, eventually, they still resorted to negotiations with the government during which the matter was resolved amicably and a new national minimum wage, which is over 100% of the old one, was agreed upon with even an icing on the cake as President Tinubu committed to every 3-year review, instead of workers having to wait for 5 years before wages are adjusted.

More importantly, the hashtag #EndbadGovernance being promoted by the unknown protesters is dubious and remains contentious. End to bad governance? This condensation reminds one of the rhetoric of still-disgruntled opponents of President Tinubu, who lost the 2023 presidential election at the polls and in court, and now want to unseat him and come to power through the back doors. This is unacceptable. The nation’s electoral laws stipulate how elections are won and lost and the electoral circles as well. They will do well to wait for the next election in 2027.

End to bad governance? Where is the bad governance, one may ask? Yes, these are challenging times. Current economic challenges are not peculiar to Nigeria alone. Almost all the countries around the world, including the most developed ones, are in turmoil. Nigeria is no exception. President Tinubu is applying the right medication to an ailing economy he inherited. This bears restating: the economic policies the government has embarked upon, which have been widely commended, have their gestation periods. And, though some pains may have come during the interregnum, these would be temporary. Some compensatory and cushioning initiatives are also being embarked upon. The point is that the distribution of palliatives to the people needs to be intensified and pursued vigorously. In this respect, states and Local governments must do better as partners with the federal government to ensure the effective distribution of these palliatives.

In the meantime, there is cheering news about the economy. The country has exited the ways and means trap, which had been a cog in the wheel before and there is now growing confidence in the nation’s economy. According to the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, debt service cost has declined from 97 percent to 68 percent and the government has also surpassed non-oil revenue by 30%. What this means is that the government will now have more money to fund social services and infrastructural projects that will improve the quality of life of Nigerians. The economy is growing, and sooner than later, some of the challenges of today will be overcome.
Therefore, this is not the time for a violent protest. The protest does not bode well. It poses an existential threat to Nigeria and its democracy. It will not augur well for anyone. We may all be losers in the end.

In summing up this article, I cannot but paraphrase that insightful columnist, Idowu Akinlotan, in his July 21, 2024 Palladium column, because he made this point more succinctly than I would do. I quote: “In sum, everybody may end up a loser, including opposition politicians galled by the outcome of the last presidential election, politicians who promote ethnic and religious exceptionalism, ethnic groups which resent the winner of the poll, youths who would likely become cannon fodder should the crisis blow out of proportion, and the country itself whose tenuous unity and untenable political structure have triggered tectonic shifts in the body politic. Nothing is certain, and this is no scaremongering.”

Rahman is a senior presidential aide

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered senior officers to protect protesters in the planned nationwide protest.

The nationwide protests over the economic hardship in the country have been slated for the first week of August.

The federal government and President Bola Tinubu have appealed to the youth to shelve the planned protest.

Recently, the Take-It-Back Movement, a pro-democracy group, notified the IGP of its plan to hold public meetings, rallies, and processions with other Nigerians.

In a letter to the IGP, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the group’s lawyer, requested police protection for the protesters.

Responding to the request in a letter dated July 29 and signed by Johnson Adenola, the IGP principal secretary, Egbetokun granted the request of the group for police protection.

The IGP asked Adegboruwa to meet with him at the police headquarters in Abuja to deliberate further on the request.

“I am to inform you that the Inspector-General of Police has directed the Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (Operations and Intelligence), the Assistant Inspectors-General of Police in charge of Zonal Police Headquarters, and the Commissioners of Police in charge of State Commands across the country to attend to your request,” the letter reads.

“I am to also inform you that the Inspector-General of Police wishes to have a meeting with you at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Tuesday, 30th July, 2024, to deliberate further on your request.”

[TheCable]