APC state chairmen plan two-week rallies to counter hunger protest
By Adeola Atanda
State chairmen of All Progressives Congress have indicated their willingness to stage rallies in support of the federal government and to counter the planned hunger protest, commencing from August 1.
Alphonsus Ogar Eba, chairman of the APC, Cross Rivers chapter, said this, on Monday, on behalf of the forum of state chairpersons of the party.
“It is therefore proper to bring to the knowledge of rightly guided patriotic Nigerians that the political undercurrents flowing from the planned protest appears to have redirected the initial focus of the planned protest from economic hardship to an unconstitutional change of government by some failed politicians,” he said.
Ogar said the protests are an “attempt by by sore losers trying to use this planned protest to achieve their aim.”
“As the ruling party, we are prepared to meet every contestant in 2027 but we will not fold our arms and allow undemocratic forces to topple the Government we worked so hard to elect into office.
“That will be a disservice to the good people of Nigeria who freely gave us this mandate.
“Protest is a constitutional right when done through the rule of law. However, security reports have shown that it is counterproductive to embark on this protest this time as there are sinister arrangements by some unpatriotic persons to hijack the protest for the sole purpose of unleashing nefarious agenda to perpetrate violence and indulge in high-level criminality reminiscent of the 2020 #EndSARS protests and the recent experience in Kenya.
“Against this background, in the next two weeks commencing from today 29th July to 11th August 2024 and from this press briefing, we shall follow with a solidarity rally by all structures of our party across all political wards, LGAs and States capital including Abuja, FCT.
“We shall embark on peaceful rallies to reecho the laudable projects and the programmes of President Tinubu with greater vigour to protect and defend our democracy from any attack by hoodlums or some criminal elements who want to carry out violent protest.
“All our party men and concerned Nigerians in other political parties, are enjoined to stand firm in protection of Democracy.”
