…says ‘it’s a day we’ll honour Abuja traditional rulers’
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, declared that the planned nationwide protest against the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government will not be allowed to hold in the Territory.
He said this is because August 1, 2024 scheduled for the protest has been set aside to honour FCT traditional rulers.
Wike disclosed this while briefing newsmen after the FCT Security Council meeting attended by the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Bunkure, FCTA management team, Area Council chairmen and heads of security agencies in the FCT.
Wike had earlier in the day inspected a road project in Saburi, along the Dei-Dei community of Abuja Municipal Area Council, where he advised residents not to join ‘armed robbers’ to protest.
“Do not go and follow these armed robbers on the road who said they want to protest. There is nothing like protests. Abuja will not be part of it. What you want is good governance and we are willing to give you good governance,” he told the crowd.
Meanwhile, at the end of the meeting with heads of security agencies in the FCT, the Minister said they were all aware of the threat as regards what some people may call ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest.
He said, “We believe that yes, we have the right to protest; we have the right to demonstrate, but all these have to come within the ambit of the law. During this period, we think that all Nigerians should work collectively to salvage our country.
“I am aware that there are challenges, and Mr President and his team are working very hard to make sure that those challenges, those problems facing our country are being solved. We know that it is a very difficult period for citizens.
“We urge all Nigerians to also have patience that at the end of the day, we will come out of this economic woes. We have seen the changes in the FCT, we have seen that government is working.”
The Minister noted that President Bola Tinubu had given FCT so much support, which is the reason behind the many changes going on in the FCT, warning that no one would be allowed anybody to set them back.
Wike further said, “We are looking forward to making sure that we take FCT to where it is supposed to be, as one of the major cities not only in Africa but also in the world. So, we will not allow anybody to disrupt the peace and set us back.
“For those who want to protest on the 1st of August or thereabout, FCT is not available for such protest. Fortunately, though, that is the day FCT has set aside, the entire Area Councils will be jubilating to give out certificates of recognition to their traditional rulers.
“So, we will not allow that day that the entire FCT has set aside to honour their traditional rulers for the people to come and rejoice, and then somebody would say that he wants to disrupt us that day.
“We want to make it categorically clear, that the day is a day the entire six Area Councils will be meeting to recognise and give out certificates of honour to their traditional rulers.”
The Minister, therefore, invited FCT residents to join them in the celebrations, saying that it was part of the achievements of the FCT Administration.
He stressed that the whole world should be aware that August 1 would not be available for those who want to protest.
