The ruling All Progressives Congress has called on Nigerians to resist alleged plots by opposition parties to instigate them into social strife over the economic challenges battling the nation.
A statement issued by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, on Tuesday, accused opposition of manipulating young Nigerians to protest economic downturn, saying the protests in Kano and Niger were pointers to its allegation.
It, however, assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu is striving hard to ameliorate the suffering of the populace and called on the citizens to stand by his government.
“In its arrant desperation to portray the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led administration as under-performing, opposition parties have resorted to instigating unsuspecting young people to protests in the streets of some major cities.
“The protests in Minna and Kano on Monday were the manifestation of this devious and unpatriotic plot. That the protests happened simultaneously in both cities is not coincidental. It bears a bold stamp of an orchestrated and coordinated effort to instigate unrest and undermine the government. This mercenary opposition tactic is a clear and present threat to public peace and national security.
“While we recognize the right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest, we urge our good people to be vigilant and not lend themselves to the treacherous attempt by the opposition to promote social strife by its incendiary rhetoric and manipulative plots.
“The President Bola Tinubu-led administration is solidly committed to doing everything in its power to mitigate the transient pains of critically important reforms that are crucial to economic recovery and sustainable prosperity for all Nigerians. It behoves us as good citizens of our beloved country to stand fast with our government in this noble stride. In due time, these policy reforms will yield enduring beneficial transformation of the material conditions of life in the country.
“We implore Nigerians to shun the guile and unpatriotic attempt by opposition elements to destabilize the country for their own base and parochial political gains,” the statement read.
