THE Senate has asked Nigerians and promoters of the nationwide protests to halt their plans in the interest of the country.

According to the Senate, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has, within one year in office, initiated policies that would benefit Nigerians in the near future.

Speaking after an executive session that lasted close to two hours yesterday, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the Senate, having reviewed the situation, with  regards to the nationwide protests slated today, is urging those warming up for the action  to shelve their plan.

Akpabio had on Sunday summoned an emergency session of the upper legislative chambers, ahead of the nationwide protest.

Meanwhile, there was a  heavy security presence in and around the National Assembly complex in Abuja yesterday, as lawmakers held an emergency plenary.

Contrary to the usual practice, the Sergeant-at-arms,  barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly, with strict adherence to the provision of  identification cards for entry at the Mopol gate.

Policemen in their numbers, hovered around the entrance of the National Assembly with their guns.

The  heightened security, it was gathered, was allegedly intended to prevent protesters from gathering at the venue.

According to the President of the Senate, initiatives such as the signing of the national minimum wage bill into law, establishment of the North West and South East Development Commissions, granting of local government autonomy, among others, will reduce hunger and poverty in the country. 

He said the various bills passed by the National Assembly would also help in resolving the economic challenges bedeviling the country.

Akpabio said:  “The senate in a closed session, deliberated on issues bothering on the workings of the Senate in particular and the national assembly in general.

“The Senate particularly reviewed the current situation as regards the impending protest set to be slated for tomorrow August 1.

“This protest is slated for tomorrow, the 30th of August, 2024 and I kindly urge you that one year is not long enough for the policies being implemented by the current administration of President Asuwajibola Bola Tunibu to yield the desired results.

“The Senate urges the protesters to give the government more time to address their demands, considering the measures being put in place to ameliorate the situation in the country, such as the National Minimum Wage Act, the sale of crude oil to local refiners in naira, the implementation of Students Loan Act, the assent recently granted to the Southeast Development Commission and the Northwest Development Commission, bills passed by the National Assembly to further address developments at the grassroots. 

“The Senate, and in fact the entire National Assembly, is willing to legislate on all matters that will bring succour to Nigerians in general.”

The former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe, who was kidnapped on July 9, has been found dead.

Sources, who could not confirm whether the 79-year-old retired university teacher died as a result of weakness due to age or that he was killed by the kidnappers, told PUNCH Metro that the don was found buried in a shallow grave in the bush.

Olaofe was kidnapped in his house alongside his guard on July 9, over three weeks ago, and driven away in his car which the police said they recovered days after the kidnap incident.

Our correspondent gathered that the kidnappers initially demanded N50m ransom and thereafter remained incommunicado.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Mr Adeniran Akinwale, who confirmed Olaofe’s death, said, “Yes, the professor has been found dead and we are doing everything possible to exhume the body for burial.

“However, we have arrested so many people and you know the circumstances surrounding the incident and we suspected insiders’ work in which the security man employed by the professor was the one who planned it.

“They (abductors) kidnapped the man with him so that we would not suspect. In the process of rescuing him, we have arrested some people. I can’t say much about the security guard, but at the appropriate time, we will brief the public,” the CP said.

While the search for the former university teacher lasted, members of the Are Ekiti Progressives Union; Ekiti Council of Elders; and Nigerian Universities Pensioners’ Association, EKSU Branch, charged the security agencies and the state government to intensify efforts to rescue the old man.

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State, Alphonsus Eba on Wednesday said the party has secured police permit to march in all the 196 political wards of the state against the nationwide protest.

He made this known during an interaction with journalists at the APC Secretariat in Calabar.

Eba said he will lead the APC members to move about in designated routes in Calabar for 14 days.

According to him, other party officials and registered members will engage in similar marches in their different local government and wards as from August 1st.

“We are embarking on solidarity march in support of Mr President’s and our amiable state governor’s feats in office which altogether changed the backward strides and charted positive and progressive dividends for Nigerians.

“Those that may be misguided, the security agencies will handle and lead them to psychiatric and other confined homes,” he said.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said the major concern of President Bola Ahmed ahead of the planned August 1, 2024, hardship protest is how to safeguard the gains of his government in the past 15 months.

Edun disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja.

According to him, the president desires that protests be peaceful so that Nigeria’s economic recovery momentum will not be dislodged. 

Edun noted that Tinubu understands the concerns of Nigerians and is working round the clock to proffer lasting solutions.

“He is concerned that the protests will remain peaceful and orderly, such that the gains that have been made over the past 12 to 15 months should not be dissipated. The momentum that has been achieved in the Nigerian economy should not be dislodged, disturbed or dissipated.

“I think, amongst many other well-meaning Nigerians, the President truly understands the concerns that are being expressed, particularly the high and limited cost of living, which is not beneficial to Nigeria at this stage,” he said.

The minister commented barely hours before the planned August 1 protest nationwide.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has issued an ex-parte order, restricting Abuja protesters to the National Stadium otherwise known as the MKO Abiola stadium.

The order followed an application that was brought before the court by the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

The scheduled nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country is slated to commence tomorrow..

In the ex-parte application that was moved by Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, the FCT Minister, prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, streets, offices and public premises within the FCT between August 1 to August 10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

He equally applied for order of interim injunction mandating security agencies to prevent the protesting leaders from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, offices or public premises within the FCT between August 1 and 10, pending the determination of the suit.

Insisting that the Federal Government was not opposed to the planned protest, the FCT Minister told the court that intelligence and security reports reaching him indicated that some elements within the leadership of the protesters were planning to capitalize on the protest to cause havoc and irreparable damages to public facilities and to also block roadways to prevent movement of persons and vehicles and disturb public peace.

He claimed that when he contacted the security agencies to ensure that the planned protest will not degenerate into criminality and disturbance of public peace and order, he was told that they are not well equipped to manage any crisis that may arise from the planned protest at a short notice.

The Minister tendered an exhibit from the “Take it Back Movement, FCT,” signed by one Damilare Adenola, in which they threatened to invade the Presidential Villa and also threatened to pull down the outer wires facing the Aso Rock villa during the protest

The said exhibit further indicated that the organisers demanded that they should be provided with light as well as toilet during the duration of the protest.

After he had listened to the Applicant, Justice Oriji, while acknowledging the right of individuals to embark on the protest, however restricted them to the Stadium in view of the fears expressed by the minister.

“In the light of the above, the court considers it appropriate and expedient to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the rights of the protesters are guaranteed and that the protest does not negatively or adversely affect the rights of other citizens to move about and to ensure that that properties and other public facilities are not destroyed,” the judge held.

He, therefore, ordered the 1st to 5th respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the protest.

More so, the court ordered the service of processes in the suit as well as the confinement order on the respondents by placing same on the newspapers.

Cited as 1st to 12th Defendants in the suit, are; Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, Inspector General IG of Police, Commissioner of Police, Director General of the State Security Service, Director General, Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air staff and the Chief of Naval Staff.

A few hours to the August 1-10, 2024, nationwide hunger protests in the country, a Kwara State High Court has restricted protesters to the Ilorin Metropolitan square in the state capital.

Granting an ex parte order on Wednesday, the court said it agreed with the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Senior Ibrahim Sulyman that such a protest could degenerate into violence if the protesters were allowed to do as they wished.

The respondents in the case are the Director State Security Service, Kwara State, Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, the Commandant, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Take-It-Back Movement, Mr. Buhari Olanrewaju Ahmed and unknown persons.

“After listening to Ibrahim Sulyman Esq., Attorney General of Kwara State, the applicant herein and after a careful perusal of the 5-paragraph affidavit, as well as the written address in support of the motion ex-parte, the following orders are hereby granted:

“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th-6th respondents whether by themselves, agents, privies, servants or any other person(s) acting through them to converge, carry, conduct any act or form of their proposed peaceful public protest, rallies, processions and or meetings in any other place other than Metropolitan Square/Asa Dam Road, Kwara State in the interest of the general public for a period of 7 days, effective from the 1st August, 2024.

“It is also ordered that the 1st-3rd respondents are directed to provide adequate security for the protection of lives and properties of all citizens and residents of Kwara State, as well as the infrastructure provided by the Kwara State Government against the 4th-6th respondents’ act, protest, or any form of protest for a period of 7days effective from the 1st August, 2024 or any other day pending the determination of the motion on notice.

“It is also ordered that all the court processes filed in respect of this suit be served on the 4th-6th respondents by pasting same at the High Court of Justice premises,” the order read.

The court adjourned further hearings in the case to 14th of August, 2024, according to a statement by the press secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Adesikeola Ajiboye in Ilorin on Wednesday.

Ahead of the planned nationwide protest scheduled to begin on August 1, the Organised Civil Society has issued guidelines to protesters to ensure the success of the protest against hunger and hardship in the country.

The guidelines, according to a statement signed by the Head, Coordinating Secretariat of the United Action Front of Civil Society, Olawale Okunniyi on Wednesday, followed a meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The group urged protesters to be civil and orderly, and not allow anyone to provoke or distract them, from the agenda of the protest. They also urged protesters to record with their phones in the event of any external aggression and send such recordings to the Civil Society Situation Room on Protests Ethics Monitoring.

Okunniyi also implored protesters not to go to the venues of the protests with sharp objects or weapons as any such person will be handed over to security agents.

The statement read in part, “Citizens participating in the protest rallies and processions are advised to be civil, orderly and focused and not allow anybody or forces to provoke or distract them from the agenda and goal of the protest, which is to compel government to end Hunger and Hardships in the country

“Protesters should endeavour to come out with their small pack of bottle of water and snacks if possible and should be smartly dressed. Protesters are advised not to come to protest ground with sharp, hard and violent objects or weapons as anybody seen with such objects and weapons shall be apprehended and handed over to security agents or protest monitoring team for prosecution.

“For help and support during the nationwide protests, citizens are enjoined to contact protest monitors at the situation room of the organised Civil Society via WhatsApp of the following hotlines: +23481-884-51511, +234 814 286 4904,+234 703 504 6101, +234 803 582 3617. Please note that the above hotlines are for WhatsApp messages only”.

The group also urged the government and its agents to “demobilise and caution those being recruited to threaten and intimidate peaceful Protesters to desist to avoid unnecessary clash and battle in the interest of peace and stability of Nigeria.”

He added that any such sponsored mobilisation against the protesters will “may lead to another unwanted riot in the mode of #EndSars debacle in Nigeria.”

The first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians, particularly youths, to be patient with the present administration as it works earnestly to ensure that things get better.

The first lady gave the advice in the State House on Wednesday during an interview with journalists on the planned nationwide hunger protest by some youths.

“I appeal to the youths to be patient, we did not come to the state house to play, we are here to work because I know we will leave this place one day.

“The government has been working day and night to make sure that our country is put back on its feet.

“The respect we have now as Nigerians in the international community is higher than what we had in the past.

“People now want to do business with Nigerians legitimately and that will create jobs. Therefore, our youths should try and engage themselves, be creative and do more,” she said

The first lady said Lagos state was yet to recover from the impact of #EndSars protest, and it saddened the hearts.

“When people beat drums for protest, they may not know the backlash and what will happen after.

“That is why we are appealing to the youths to restrain from the planned protest, give peace a chance and embrace dialogue,” she said

(NAN)

..cites hoodlums’ plan to attack markets

Bashar Binji, the convener of a planned nationwide protest in Sokoto, announced the cancellation of the protest on Tuesday.

Mr Binji cited an alleged plot by hoodlums to attack markets in the state as the reason for their decision.

Addressing journalists in Sokoto, Mr Binji stated that credible intelligence reports had uncovered plans by hoodlums to exploit the gathering and attack some markets within the state’s metropolis.

While acknowledging the constructive intent behind the peaceful protest, Binji emphasised that the complex and sensitive environment could lead to unintended and potentially destabilising consequences.

“The chairman of the Sokoto Marketers Association, Abubakar Sarkin-Gishiri, reported the hoodlums’ planned attack to the Department of State Services, and it was confirmed.

“Moreover, there is another security report indicating that another group has perfected plans to attack banks and other government properties. As responsible citizens, we do not want to give them that opportunity.

”We have therefore resolved to withdraw from the planned protest for the safety of all the residents and their properties,” Mr Binji explained.

Mr Binji appreciated the security agencies’ commitment to safeguarding the state. He assured that the group would explore other ways to express their grievances to the government.

“We appeal to the people to support us and shun any actions that could breach the peace of the state,” Mr Binji said.

(NAN)

Popular rights activist and co-convener of BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, advocacy group, Aisha Yesufu, has called for the impeachment of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.

Yesufu said senators would not encounter any resistance if they opted to impeach Akpabio.

Posting on X, Yesufu wrote: “Dear Senators. It is time to impeach Godswill Akpabio. It is still one of you that will replace him as Senate President.

“You will not encounter any resistance. Propaganda cannot work on people that are hungry. The growling of their stomach will drown out the noise and they won’t be able to hear the propaganda.”

Her remark came after Akpabio mocked Nigerians planning to hit the streets on August 1 to protest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The Senate President had urged aggrieved Nigerians willing to protest to go ahead, saying “but let us be there eating.”

Noting that all Nigerians are feeling the impact of the hardship in the country, Akpabio assured that the situation would last only for a short time.