The Lagos State Chapter of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerians to embrace peace and shun any anti-government demonstration at this critical time of economic transformation.
The passionate appeal is coming against the backdrop of planned protest by some disgruntled Nigerians across the country.
The protest is scheduled to begin from Thursday, 1st to 10th orf August, 2024.
The ruling party spoke through a press statement released and made available to Theliberationnews on Wednesday, by its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo.
The party explained that though peaceful protest is a key feature of democracy but the predictable violence in the planned #EndBadGovernanceProtest has made the demonstration undesirable calling for peace and continued perseverance.
“While we acknowledge peaceful protests as an integral component of democratic governance, the predictable attendant violence and loss of lives and property remain undesirable,” the statement read in part.
“In the past days, we have watched with keen interest, most especially, in the social media, the mobilization for the protest , laced with bitterness, hate speeches, hostility divisiveness and threats to citizens with contrary opinions.
“The mass destruction of public and private assets during the Endsars protest which started as a harmless demonstration remains fresh in our memory.
“The loss of targeted critical infrastructure across various sectors set our dear state back by decades and in billions,” the statement added.
The part called on government across all levels to listen to the yearning of Nigerians especially the youths at this critical time as it expressed its optimism that Nigerians will not be deceived into perpetrating needless and avoidable carnage by those with ulterior motive in the name of protest.
“We urge the government at the federal, state and local levels to remain sensitive , attentive, receptive and responsible to the yearnings of our terming population, most especially the youth, in order to continue to engender confidence and uphold its onerous constitutional responsibility to protect the lives and property of all and sundry.
“We’re not unmindful of the political undertones with the otherwise moribund opposition fanning the embers of blood letting to soothe their bruised ego as a result of losing the last national elections.
“We take solace in the assurance that patriotic Nigerians will not be deceived into avoidable carnage by people with ulterior motives.
We also appeal to the security agencies to uphold the best professional standards to forestall any unpleasant development.
“We, as a party, will are duty bound to fulfill our part of the social contract with the citizens who have graciously entrusted us with the mandate, the statement concluded.
