Some alleged supporters of President Bola Tinubu’s administration gathered on Audu Bako Way and Farm Centre Road in Kano on Thursday in a counter-protest against the ongoing nationwide demonstrations against bad governance and economic hardship in Nigeria.
The group argued the current administration needs more time to address national challenges.
One protester, Abdullahi Muhammad Saleh, expressed appreciation for President Tinubu’s efforts, particularly the North West Development Commission, which he believes will bring positive change to the region.
Saleh advocated for dialogue over protests, urging unity and peaceful problem-solving. He emphasised that unpatriotic individuals should not hijack their actions and that they support the government because they see its efforts.
“The best way to protest is through dialogue. Everybody is feeling this pain but protest is not the way out. Let’s preach peace first and unite ourselves to solve our problems. We can dialogue not approach the government.
“We don’t want anybody, unpatriotic people to hijack this action. We can do more. We are for the government because we know what it is doing. We are against the protest of violence,” he said.
This pro-government demonstration follows a statement from the ruling party’s chairmen across Nigeria, who pledged to mobilise support for President Tinubu and highlight his achievements.
At a press briefing at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, the Cross River State chairman and Secretary of the APC States Chairmen Forum, had called for resistance against any unorganised protests that could disrupt national peace.
“We call on all patriotic Nigerian to resist any attempt by any one or any group of persons to intimidate them into unorganised protest likely to endanger the peace we currently enjoy as a nation. We call on patriots to join forces with security agencies to report any criminal element who attempt to carry out any act of violence,” he had said.
Meanwhile, a nationwide protest planned from August 1 to 10, 2024, organised by those lamenting widespread hunger and inflation in the country, has kicked off in full force despite government’s last minutes efforts to prevent the action.