By Chinasaokwu Helen okoro
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Thursday, commended protesters in the nation’s capital for being non-violent and peaceful, noting that if Abuja was lost to violence, the nation was also lost.
Wike made the comment during his address at the presentation of the Staff of Office to four newly graded Chiefs in Abuja.
Our correspondent reports that the scheduled #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protests began in Abuja earlier today, with protesters converging on the MKO Abiola Stadium as early as 6 am, in line with a court order restricting the protest to the venue.
Pockets of violence however marred the otherwise protests, forcing security agencies and men of the Nigeria Police to fire tear gas at some protesters, in a bid to maintain law and order.
Businesses, banks and a few markets across the city were also recorded to have been shut in fear of the protests escalating into a crisis.
In his address, the Minister stated that nothing was unachievable if the protesters dialogue with the government while reiterating his call for citizens to be patient with the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“So, I also commend the protesters in Abuja who have refused to be violent; and let them continue to be peaceful.
Abuja is the Centre of Unity; Abuja is for everybody. If we lose Abuja, we have lost Nigeria.
That’s why we have always said let us work together. There’s nothing we cannot achieve under the present administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu. Give him time, and a lot of things will change,” Wike said.
Wike also said that it was better to sit down and dialogue with the government while urging the protesters to continue with the peaceful protests, while again reiterating his appeal for a dialogue.
“We have seen severally that it is better to dialogue, it is better to sit down and iron out issues with the government. I want you to continue with that peace process, and he who makes peace, will at the end of the day, enjoy the dividend of peace.
I want to commend you and still talk to our people, appeal to them that we are still ready to sit with them and dialogue with them, and iron out the grey areas,” he added.
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