The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has pointed fingers at opposition political parties for orchestrating the widespread protests that engulfed Niger and Kano States on Monday, over the escalating cost of living.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the party alleged that the synchronized protests bore the hallmarks of a deliberate and coordinated effort to foment unrest and undermine the government’s authority.
Demonstrators took to the streets on Monday morning, blocking the busy Bida Road, Kpakungun in Minna, displaying placards with messages such as “No food, we are dying of hunger,” “reduce fuel price,” and “Help us, let us get food cheaper.”
Similarly, major thoroughfares in Kano saw waves of mostly young protesters decrying the soaring prices of essential food items, notably rice, maize, beans, and millet.
Seeking public understanding, Morka emphasized that the administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remained dedicated to alleviating the temporary challenges associated with critical reforms essential for economic recovery and sustainable prosperity for all Nigerians. He urged Nigerians to disregard what he termed as deceitful and unpatriotic maneuvers by opposition elements seeking to destabilize the nation for personal gain.
The APC spokesperson stated, “In their blatant attempt to depict the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government as underperforming, opposition parties have resorted to inciting unsuspecting youth to take to the streets in protest in various major cities.”
He added, “The protests witnessed in Minna and Kano on Monday are a manifestation of this deceitful and unpatriotic scheme. The simultaneous occurrence of these protests in both cities is not coincidental; it carries the unmistakable mark of a premeditated and coordinated endeavor to sow unrest and undermine governmental authority. This opportunistic tactic by the opposition poses a grave threat to public tranquility and national security.”
While acknowledging citizens’ right to peaceful protest, the APC urged vigilance among the populace to resist manipulation by the opposition’s inflammatory rhetoric and divisive tactics. The administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, remains steadfast in its commitment to alleviating the short-term challenges associated with crucial reforms necessary for Nigeria’s economic revival and sustained prosperity. The party called upon Nigerians to reject the deceitful and unpatriotic efforts of opposition elements aimed at destabilizing the nation for narrow political interests.
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