BY CHUWANG DUNGS
The Minister of State for Steel Development, Uba Maigari, on Tuesday begged Taraba youths to shun the planned nationwide protests in the overall interest of the country.
He described those calling for the protests as ‘arsonists and propagandists’ who don’t mean well for the country having lost the elections.
He then warn that the protest could be hijacked by criminal elements and may lead to anarchy
Mr Maigari, spoke to journalists in his Jalingo home, shortly after meeting with stakeholders to brainstorm on how to persuade the protesters from the planned nationwide protest starting from 1 August,
He noted that Tinubu as a true democrat who invested a lot of resources and over 30 years in the struggle for democracy is not against any protest but Nigerians should be patient considering the security implications.
Maigari acknowledged that though the country was currently going through challenges, President Bola Tinubu had taken economic measures in addressing the challenges and the attendant hardship.
He noted that Nigerians only needed to exercise little patience, and urged them to give Mr Tinubu more time to implement his developmental blueprint towards making the Renewed Hope Agenda a reality.
“As a government, we are not against protest. Tinubu invested over thirty years to democratic struggle, sacrificed his life, and stayed away from his family.
“Tarabans should be patient and prayerful and articulate their demands and not allow themselves to be used by anarchists and propagandists.” Mr Maigari said.
The Minister who earlier addressed a mammoth crowd at the venue of the meeting, said the mammoth crowd that came was “an indication of the success of the program. It shows the people are on our side”.
According to him, the crowd was not only APC members but cut across all political parties. He said Mr President’s message was transmitted to the people.
He however appealed to the citizens to be patient as “God pre-determines everything”.
He said the issue of food crisis is not only peculiar to Nigeria alone and that no sensible person would see his brother suffering hence the intervention by the federal government.
