The Coalition of Civil Society Group For Transparency and Good Governance (CCSGT&GG) has commended President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to address economic hardship faced by Nigerians and urged citizens not to protest.
Speaking at a press conference on yesterday in Abuja, the former secretary-general Alliance for Democracy (AD) and national deputy president Campaign for Democracy (CD), Dr Manzo Abubakar, acknowledged the challenges faced by Nigerians but expressed confidence in the president’s commitment to tackling them.
He said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for Nigeria. He has made decisions, and I can tell you that the love you can have for yourself is not because you are PDP, APC, PDMP, or whatever. We need to stop that love and love this country first.”
He highlighted the government’s achievements, including the 130% increment in minimum wage, the reduction of the review period for minimum wage from five to three years, and its passage by the National Assembly.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done through the composite reengineering of the polity what the legendary General Charles de Gaulle did for France, then emerging from the throes of war in the field of nuclear strategy.
“We know you have the can-do spirit, we are begging and pleading with you to work with us. And we are saying there are many things to enjoy in this government with time.
“We are appealing to everybody that we are sure this country is in safe hands. We should not allow negative political elements to derail a stabilised moving trainm,” he said.
Manzo urged citizens to be calm, realistic and take advantage of the opportunities provided by the government, cautioning against using social media to destabilise the country.
“You have the right to protest, but we are saying that it is time for us to know the value of doing our research, to talk to ourselves and sit down and let us know where these things are affecting us and have a roundtable with the government. This is a listening government,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of unity and solidarity in overcoming adversity and building a better Nigeria.
He highlighted several policies and executive orders implemented by the Tinubu administration, including the approval of 10 billion naira for CNG buses, N35 billion in student loans, and suspension of duties, tariffs, and taxes for food commodities.
He urged citizens to consider the consequences of the planned protest and seek more constructive avenues for change.
