The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammad Idris has pleaded with Nigerians to give the administration more time to resolve the country’s current economic hardships.
Idris made the call while speaking to journalists after the emergency meeting of ministers on Wednesday at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) in Abuja.
He assured that the federal government was not sleeping and would handle the protest over economic hardship like a family affair to ensure the stability of the country.
The Information Minister stated, “We came together to discuss. You can see that this is not happening at the Council Chambers, it’s happening at the office of the SGF and many of the ministers are here.
“We have discussed issues of national interest and all of us are working for Nigeria and we hope and believe that Nigeria is going to be great again.
“The planned protest is a family matter. All issues will be resolved in a way to ensure the peace and stability of the country. No one is going to sleep.
“Those who are agitating and asking for protests are Nigerians, they are our brothers, they are our sisters, they are all Nigerians, and those in positions of authority; the ministers, the president, everybody, we are all Nigerians, too.
“So, this is a family matter. This is a Nigerian family issue and all of us are looking at this issue very well and we hope that peace will prevail at the end of the day.”
The Minister also discussed the views of human rights advocate and lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), who emphasized that the planned protest was a constitutional right.
He highlighted that in a democracy, everyone is entitled to their opinion, underscoring the importance of respecting diverse viewpoints.
According to the Minister, “He (Falana) is an individual. This is a democracy; everyone is entitled to his opinion. The protesters are also Nigerians; this is a democratic situation. What I keep saying is that we are all Nigerians and we are all acting in the interest of Nigeria, but suffice it to say that yesterday, Mr President said there is no need for any protest, let us calm down.
“A lot is happening, Nigeria is going to move and march on and we believe that whatever government comes out with will be in the interest of Nigeria.
“We don’t think that there is a need for any protest, we are appealing for calm; we are appealing for a peaceful resolution or peaceful approach to any issue.
“If you have anything that you want to put out there, you are free to put it out there, but the government is insisting that we are all Nigerians, we have to be calm, we have to be patient, and suffice it to say that let us give peace a chance.
“Mr President is working round the clock, his ministers are working, everyone is working, all hands are on deck.”
Ministers that attended the meeting were Wale Edun (Finance); Bello Matawalle (Defence); Nyesom Wike (Federal Capital Territory); Tahir Mamman (Education); Abubakar Bagudu (Budget and Planning); Yusuf Tuggar (Foreign Affairs); and Zephaniah Jisalo (Special Duties); David Umahi (Works).
Another notable figure at the meeting is the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu.
