Mr. Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is mobilising Abuja youths and other stakeholders against joining the intended August 1 to 10 nationwide protests against hunger and hardship.
Speaking at a ministerial engagement with FCT youths from Abuja South Federal Constituency in Kwali Area Council of the FCT yesterday, Wike said, ”Youths and other stakeholders in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils will also be engaged on the same challenges in the coming days.
The News Agency of Nigeria noted that a related interaction was held with stakeholders in Abuja Municipal Area Council in Abuja at the weekend. Wike stressed that the mobilisation was to educate them on the dangers of protest and why they should resist it.
He appreciated the traditional monarchs and the council chairmen for mobilising FCT youths for the exchange to educate them against joining a protest they do not have a stake in.
There is no need for the protest. The current government is merely one year in office and that's not enough to assess its achievements. He highlighted significant achievements in education, healthcare, and particularly security. The minister appealed to residents to acknowledge the progress made by security agencies and encourage them to do even better.
Defending his performance in office, the minister argued that it is too soon to judge his leadership. He said, "I have not been in office for over a year, but I have done so much that should be acknowledged and convince people that the Federal Capital Territory is working".
“It is unfair to claim that no progress has been made on security when the security situation in the FCT has improved.
He affirmed that in view of the recent developments in the FCT, what was craved for was peace and not protest. "We desire peace in FCT, and so we cannot be silent and allow it to be destroyed in the disguise of protest”, Wike concluded.
