Protests Counterproductive, Tinubu Needs Time to Fix Nigeri– COPAN

The Conference of Patriotic Nigerians (COPAN) has called for suspending a planned protest, urging citizens to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration more time to address the nation’s challenges.

In a statement signed by COPAN’s coordinator, Uchenna Odieli, and secretary, O. D. Jimoh,
lCOPAN recognised the constitutional right to protest but deemed it counterproductive at this stage.
The organisation argued that the proposed demonstration is politically motivated and aimed at inciting unrest for selfish gains.

“Protests, as we have seen in the past, lead to destruction and backwardness,” the statement read, referencing the damage caused by the EndSARS protests.

“Nigeria has not fully recovered from the last protest, and it is foolhardy for any Nigerian to join this one.”
COPAN expressed confidence in President Tinubu’s ability to improve the country, citing his administration’s initiatives such as removing fuel subsidies, introducing student loans, local government financial autonomy, a new minimum wage, and the South East Development Commission Bill.

“It is unfair to call for a protest against a government that has only completed one year of its four-year tenure,” COPAN stated.

They emphasised that the issues prompting the protest were inherited from previous administrations.

The organisation urged Nigerians to support the government’s efforts rather than engage in actions that could lead to further instability.