Wike: Monarchs Event won't allow Room for Protests in FCT

.says Gov’t. aware of living conditions, addressing it¹

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared that administration under his watch will not allow the planned nationwide protests codenamed: #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria scheduled to kick off from August 1, 2024.

Wike made the disclosure on Thursday at a media briefing held in his office in Abuja, sequel to a security council meeting with heads of security agencies and Area Council Chairmen in the federal capital city.

The minister informed that the day marked for demonstration had already been set aside to celebrate the presentation of certificates to traditional rulers in the six area councils of the FCT.

He acknowledged the poor living conditions in the country and emphasized that President Tinubu is committed to ameliorating challenges confronting Nigerians.

Wike stressed that despite the constitutional rights of the citizens to express their views through protest, the action must follow what is acceptable in the eye of the law, calling on Nigerians to rather be determined to work together to save the country.

“This period, we think that all Nigerians should work collectively to salvage our country. I’m 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.

“Unfortunately, though, that is a 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.”

The Minister added that, “Mr President has given the FCT so much support, that is why all of us can attest to the fact that there are a lot of changes going on in the FCT, and therefore we will not allow anybody to set us back, as we are looking forward to make 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 anybody to disrupt the peace and set us back. For those who want to protest on the first of August or thereabouts, FCT is not available for such protest.

“We also invite our people to come and join us that day in celebrating..”