Senate President Godswill Akpabio has accused the candidates who lost the 2023 presidential election of sponsoring the planned nationwide protest.
Mr. Akpabio spoke on Monday at the State House, Abuja, after witnessing President Bola Tinubu sign into law the new minimum wage bill.
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC) and others contested President Tinubu in the election.
Some individuals and organisations in the country have planned a nationwide protest against the hardships caused by the economic policies of the Tinubu administration. The protest will take place on August 1 and 10.
The Senate President, however, said those who lost the election thought they could use the protest to claim power through the back door.
“People who are unlikely to be lucky in the 2023 elections think they can enter through the back door, and that will amount to anarchy,” Akpabio said.
He warned protesters to ignore damaged property.
Article page with promotion of financial support
“Any destruction of any property will cost Nigeria money. We do not have money. Instead, let us invest in the development of you and your environs instead of going into reconstruction.”
Protesters plan to loot people's property
Mr. Akpabio also warned that some people are planning to use the protest to loot properties and commit other atrocities.
“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to those who are trying to stir up trouble: you have the right to protest. It is a fundamental right, it is in the Constitution.
But there is no right to destabilise the country. The right to protest must not become the right to unleash violence.
“It is very clear that the people behind this are very amorphous, very anonymous. Which means that people are preparing to loot and do all kinds of things,” he added.
The Senate President said the country's difficulties were not caused by President Tinubu's economic decisions but by the consequences of the policies of previous governments.
“The situation we find ourselves in today is not the result of one year of government, but of years of insecurity. Many people were unable to go to their farms for almost ten years, and they know it, and the president has risen to the occasion.
“All the food that comes in now is coming in without anything resembling a restaurant solution. There are no restrictions; bring in food because Nigerians need to eat. And at the same time, most things are coming in with a lot of exemptions.
READ ALSO: Akpabio calls for emergency plenary session on Wednesday
“I am elated that indeed the government is doing what it should do. And we, the leaders of the National Assembly, are reaching out to our various constituencies. That is why my appeal to the Nigerian youth is not to allow any group to mislead them politically,” Akpabio said.
Last week, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun said foreign mercenaries were involved in planning the protest.