WorldStage Newsonline– The Nigerian Forum for the Sustenance of Democracy (NFSD), pro-democracy group, has called to the organizers of the August 1 proposed protests, to engage in constructive dialogue with the Federal Government instead of taking to the streets in order to avoid disruption of law and order in the country.
President of the group, Hon. Abdulrahman Buba Kwaccham said at a press conference in Abuja that: “We must recognize that any disruption of law and order will worsen our already challenging economic situation, further intensifying the suffering endured by our people.”
Kwaccham asked the organizer to rather engage in constructive dialogue and seek lasting solutions to the socio-economic issues that plague our nation than embark on protest that might likely worsen the bad situation and throw the nation into state of turmoil.
He appealed to parents, community leaders, and influencers, to guide the youth away from destructive paths and towards constructive engagement for the betterment of our beloved Nigeria.
He said, “Together, we must unite to protect the peace and stability of our nation, for there is no other land but Nigeria that we call our own.
“I implore all our leaders – political, religious, and traditional – to collaborate effectively with the government and devise a comprehensive blueprint for dialogue that addresses the pressing issues facing our country, ensuring a brighter future for all Nigerians.
“Let us face the truth, however uncomfortable it may be, and use our wisdom and unity to guide the next generation in building a stronger, more united Nigeria,” he said.
President of the North Youth Leaders’ Forums, Hon. Alfa Nma, echoed Kwaccham’s sentiment against protests.
He said, “There’s no country that doesn’t have internal issues.
“Protests are not the solution. We should come together for a roundtable discussion with the federal government to resolve this hardship internally.
“We know there are people who want to destabilize our country. They should understand that what happened in another country cannot happen in Nigeria. We need to be realistic.”
He claimed the North Central region will not participate in the forthcoming protest said “The population of 1 million cannot be compared to 250 million. We should be aware of this.”
Similarly, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, National Coordinator of the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative, argued against the protest, saying, “Nigerians are not ready for this planned protest.
“We all know the state of the economy when it was handed over to President Tinubu.
“We should remember that many things have improved under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.”
The Forum Welfare Director, Ruth Isa, who represented the women, urged mothers to discourage their children from participating in the protest.
Isa said, “Protests are not the only solution to our problems and those sponsoring the protest should send their children to protest, not the common man on the streets.”
