Youths affiliated with the Nigeria Civil Society Forum (NCSF) gathered in Abuja to participate in a solidarity rally expressing support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his administration.
Naija News reports that the youths gathered at the Unity Fountain in the Business District Centre of the Federal Capital City as early as 9 am, carrying placards and dressed in white T-shirts and face caps emblazoned with the bold inscription “Jagaban is working.”
Placards bearing the inscription “NLC Stop Faking To Be Fighting For Nigerians” were observed, reflecting sentiments regarding the planned two-day nationwide strike organized by the Nigerian Labour Congress.
According to the organizers of the solidarity rally, their decision to mobilize was prompted by the proliferation of inaccurate narratives regarding the state of affairs in the country.
They emphasized that Tinubu remains steadfast in implementing his programs and policies.
Speaking to journalists during the solidarity walk from Unity Fountain to the National Assembly gate in Abuja on Friday, the Convener of the group, Terrence Kuanum, said the planned nationwide protest by the NLC was an act of sabotage.
“What is happening is sabotage and we already anticipated this sabotage because few Nigerians were benefiting immensely from this subsidy regime and insecurity that was in this country.
“I am hungry, you are hungry but it is not by sabotaging the system or antagonising the system that we can resolve this issue. We can only resolve this issue as patriotic Nigerians who are concerned that we need to resolve this problem and the generation next to us doesn’t face it.”
While the Co-convener of the group, Sunday Attah, deemed it unnecessary to call for protests against a government in power for only eight months.
Attah further pointed out that despite the recession in the United Kingdom, there are no protests against the government.
His words, “We must understand the trajectory of how the NLC has operated over time. Remember in this same country, when fuel subsidy was removed they got up and claimed to be standing for Nigerians.
“They fought and said fuel subsidy should not be removed but after a series of meetings, which of course today they are saying didn’t yield any fruit, we know how these ‘colour’ paper exchanged hands and matters died on the ground.
“We are not going to allow the NLC to plunge Nigeria into anarchy. Calling for protest against an eight months old government is uncalled for. The president is doing all his best, he is not a magician, all that Nigerians need at the moment is to be patient with the president. When a woman gets pregnant it takes nine months for her to deliver and when the child is born it takes another one to two years for the child to walk.”