Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has stated that the FCT will not be available for protests on August 1.
Wike made this clear during a press briefing on the outcomes of the FCT Security Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
He explained that August 1 had been designated for the chairmen of the six Area Councils of the FCT to present certificates of recognition to their traditional rulers.
“That is the day FCT has set aside for the entire area councils to jubilate, to give out certificates of recognition for their traditional rulers,” Wike said. “We will not allow that day that FCT has set aside to honour their traditional rulers; for their people to rejoice, and then somebody will come and disrupt that day. We will not allow it.”
Wike emphasized that the day should be reserved for celebration and recognition of the achievements of the current administration, and not for protests. He acknowledged the right to protest but stressed that it must be done within the law.
“This period, we think that all Nigerians should work collectively to salvage our country. I am aware that there are challenges, but President Bola Tinubu and his team are working right now to ensure that these challenges, these problems facing our country are addressed,” Wike noted.
The minister expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to address the challenges facing the country and urged Nigerians to be patient.
“For instance, in FCT, we have seen the changes in FCT; we have seen that the government is working. Tinubu is giving FCT so much support that all of us can attest to the fact that there are a lot of changes going on in FCT. Therefore, we will not allow anybody to set us back,” Wike stated.
He concluded by reinforcing the message that the FCT will not be available for protests on August 1 or any other day around that period.
