As the scheduled ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest against economic hardship approaches in August, President Bola Tinubu convened an emergency closed-door meeting on Thursday with top traditional rulers, security officials, and governors from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Held at the State House in Abuja, the meeting included the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, who led the APC governors. Notable first-class traditional rulers such as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Saad Abubakar III, were present, along with other traditional leaders.
Also in attendance were the National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, ministers, and other cabinet members. A delegation of Islamic scholars (Ulamas) later joined the meeting.
President Tinubu, who took office in May 2023, has appealed to the youth to cancel the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest. In an effort to placate citizens, he recently sent a bill to the National Assembly to raise the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The bill was swiftly passed by both chambers on Tuesday and is awaiting the President’s assent.
Military authorities have warned that the protest could be hijacked by unscrupulous elements to incite anarchy, similar to recent events in Kenya. The police have also cautioned against violent demonstrations, with Governor Uzodimma expressing concerns about a potential repeat of the EndSARS protests of October 2020, which were marked by widespread violence.
The ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest, organized by faceless entities, is gaining traction on social media and is set to occur across all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The protest is driven by escalating prices of food and basic commodities, as Nigerians face severe inflation and economic challenges due to the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and unification of forex windows.
