Protest: Tinubu should address nation to calm frayed nerves, says group

The Citizens Network for Peace and Development in Nigeria (CNPDN), a civil society organisation (CSO), says President Bola Tinubu should address the nation to calm frayed nerves over the planned protests.

There have been reports that youths across the country are planning to protest against economic hardship in the first week of August.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ralpheal Okorie, CNPDN national coordinator, said the state of the country’s economy is not peculiar to Nigeria.

Okorie said the group does not want the demonstration to hold, noting that it could be hijacked by “miscreants, who may 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 reads.

“The situation in Nigeria is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, and it is of 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.”

On Tuesday, Tinubu appealed to youths in the country to shelve the planned nationwide protest.

The president said he listens to youths and is committed to making the country good for them.