Nationwide Protest: APC Urges Parents to Monitor Children’s Movements
On Wednesday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) urged parents to closely monitor their children’s movements to prevent them from being drawn into violent activities during the upcoming nationwide protest.
This caution follows a warning from Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who stated that security forces would not hesitate to make arrests if the protest turns violent.
The protest, set to take place from August 1 to 10, has sparked considerable tension and mixed reactions across Nigeria. Various groups advocating for the protest cited the rising cost of living and economic hardships as their primary motivations.
Speaking to the press after the party’s 153rd National Working Committee meeting, APC National Secretary Senator Ajibola Basiru revealed that the party, alongside the President, is urging those planning the protests to reconsider and trust that the Federal Government is working to resolve the nation’s economic issues.
Basiru also advised Nigerians to keep an eye on their children’s activities to ensure they don’t inadvertently get involved in unlawful acts.
He said, “Since assuming office in 2023, the government has faced numerous challenges, particularly economic ones. The President is steadily implementing programs and policies that will soon bring relief to the citizens.
“The NWC acknowledged that some issues raised by the protestors are political, while others require constitutional amendments, which are currently being addressed by the National Assembly.
“We urge all those planning the protests to have faith in the President’s continuous efforts to improve the economy, assuring Nigerians that these challenges will eventually be resolved.
“We also call on parents and responsible citizens to monitor their children’s movements to prevent them from being used to incite chaos in the country.”
Senator Basiru also mentioned that an emergency meeting has been scheduled with all APC Chairmen from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for further discussions. Although the exact date was not specified, sources from PUNCH Online indicated that the meeting would take place at the APC secretariat on Friday.
National Deputy Organising Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru, confirmed this in an exclusive phone interview, noting that the meeting would cover more than just the protest.
“Yes, the meeting is scheduled for Friday. We will discuss the protest and other national issues,” he said.