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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, is mobilising youths in Abuja on the need to boycott the planned August 1 to 10 nationwide protests over hunger and hardship.
Wike, who engaged them at the South Federal Constituency said, ”Youths and other stakeholders in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils will also be engaged on the same issue in the coming days.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a similar interaction was held with stakeholders in Abuja Municipal Area Council in Abuja.
The minister explained that the interaction was to enlighten them on the ills of protest and why they should not be part of it.
He thanked the traditional rulers and the area council chairmen for mobilising FCT youths for the interaction to enlighten them against joining a protest they do not have a stake in.
He 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 can’t 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,” he said.
He urged residents to commend and encourage the security agencies to do more, adding that it would be unfair not to do so.
He noted: “It is not fair to say we have not done anything on insecurity when we have improved security in FCT."
He said that in view of the current development in the FCT, what is desired is peace and not protest.
“We want peace in FCT, and so we cannot fold our arms and allow it to be destroyed in the guise of protest,” Wike said.
Wike urged the youths to cooperate with the current government and stay away from the planned protest organised by people whose agenda was not so clear.
