Protest organisers yet to meet conditions to use Eagle Square, says Wike

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says he has yet to receive an application for the use of Eagle Square, Abuja, as a protest ground.

Wike spoke on Saturday at a town hall meeting in the FCT, where he dissuaded residents from participating in the nationwide protest billed for August 1-10.

The demonstration, dubbed ’10 Days of Rage’, is to protest the economic hardship.

Stakeholders, including the presidency, federal and state governments, traditional and religious leaders, have appealed to citizens to shelve the protest.

Wike said peace and order in the FCT cannot be guaranteed if residents join the protest.

The minister said proper communication channels to use Eagle Square as a demonstration ground have also not been employed.

According to Wike, the application was sought through broadcast television.

“Who are these people who want to protest? They have applied to me to grant Eagle Square. Do you apply to me through social media?” he asked.

“You will write a letter to the minister. I will see you; who are you? What do you want to do? How many days do you want to spend? How much will you pay?

“You don’t apply to me through Channels; you must apply properly. You must pay what we call security cost so that if there is any damage to the facility, we will take from that security cost and repair it.

“We don’t just give people because you have applied. You must fulfil the conditions. People have paid for Eagle Square, and you said you have applied to me.

“So, I should go and cancel the other people’s own because you want to protest? It is first come, first served.”

The minister said protests are a right but added that demonstrations targeted at destabilising the government will not be allowed.

Listing President Bola Tinubu’s accomplishments, Wike said the minimum wage has been increased in addition to the set up of a student loan scheme.

“This will not solve all the problems but at least to cushion the hardship a bit,” he said.

The minister urged Nigerians to support Tinubu.