From Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South West has warned the people of the zone not to allow the region to be turned to a theatre of war through protest.
Rising from an emergency meeting of the party executives in the zone, the party acknowledged the economic hardship in the country but warned against protest which, it said, could further jeopardise the fortunes of the nation.
In a communique released at the end of the meeting in Akure, Ondo State and signed by the National Vice Chairman (South West) and Zonal Secretary of the party, Isaacs Kekemeke, and Vincent Bewaji, respectfully, the party observed that the planned protest will not do the country any good and asked the people of the South West to jettison it.
“APC in the South West recognises that every Nigerian has a right under our constitution to hold peaceful protest and express himself or herself over the programme(s) of government.
“The party in the zone notes the giant and monumental steps already taken by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to give a new socio-economic direction to Nigeria to ultimately ensure prosperity and abundance for all Nigerians.
“The party further notes that, as to be expected, the monumental structural economic changes undertaken by the government have brought hardship to a great number of Nigerians. Members of the party in the South West are not insulated from the pains and hardship.
“The party pleads with Nigerians to bear these temporary hardships and pains with patience and equanimity and assures that, in no time, these pains would give way to meaningful livelihood for all Nigerians.
“The party, while acknowledging the right of all those who abode or live in the South West to peaceful protest, calls on all south westerners, both home and abroad, to refuse to allow the South West of Nigeria to be used as a theatre of war or centre of criminality via violent protests.
“The destruction of the economic and industrial heritages of the South West, which it is yet to recover from the destruction during the EndSARS protest, is instructive.
“The party calls on leaders of the South West, including traditional rulers, leaders of opposition parties, elite, union leaders, market women, students, and religious leaders in the zone to stand up and protect all socio-economic interests of the South West by ensuring no violent protest of any sort is held in any part of the South West.
“The party in the zone urges all state chapters of the party in the South West to continue to sensitise members of the party and the public in their states on the need to keep peace and tranquility in the region.
“The party calls on government officials from the zone that are politicians to return to their various bases to interface and explain the government’s sincere motives to their people.
“The party categorically and unequivocally condemns the call for change of democratically elected government outside of periodic election and other legally provided procedures, as unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic and provocative. Election losers, their supporters, and sympathisers must learn to wait for the next round of elections,” the party said in the communique.