From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Ahead of the June 12 celebration, the Nigeria Reinasaance Group (NRG), has told the Federal Government to beef up security across the country over planned protest against certain government officials.
NRG Spokesperson, Mohammed Lawal, in a statement, yesterday said, those targeted in the protest include the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Senate President,Godswill Akpabio; and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.
Lawal, who did not mention sponsors of the protest, claimed that the alarming revelation comes amidst heightened political sensitivities and underscores the group’s deep concern for national stability and integrity.
According to him, NRG’s intelligence “points to a meticulously planned, rather than organically driven, demonstration designed to unjustly tarnish the reputations of several high-profile government officials.
“Those specifically identified as targets of this alleged smear campaign include the esteemed Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Lateef Fagbemi; the diligent Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief George Akume; the distinguished Senate President, Obot Godswill Akpabio; and the resolute Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede.
“In a comprehensive statement released this afternoon, the Reinasaance Group unequivocally expressed its profound disquiet, asserting that the impending protests are far from a genuine expression of public discontent. Instead, they are believed to be a calculated and malicious endeavor to create undue embarrassment for the Nigerian government and to distract from its ongoing efforts towards national development.”
Lawal underscored the importance of discernment among the nation’s vibrant youth, imploring them to resist manipulation by individuals described as having abandoned the very system that once nurtured their aspirations.
He urged them to maintain what he called “an unwavering commitment to upholding law and order during the anticipated demonstrations, emphasizing the paramount need for peaceful conduct.
“We unequivocally support peaceful protests that are genuinely rooted in good intentions and a desire for constructive change.
“However, we categorically cannot and will not condone any actions aimed at undermining key figures in our government through egregious acts of blackmail, deception, and calculated misrepresentation.”
He further reiterated the group’s steadfast belief that “while the right to protest remains a fundamental pillar of any thriving democracy, its exercise must be imbued with an unwavering commitment to integrity, respect, and national interest.”
Also, he cautioned against the insidious weaponization of protests as mere tools for misleading the public or for unjustly tarnishing the hard-earned reputations of dedicated government officials who are demonstrably striving for national progress and stability.
“As the nation braces for the potential escalation of tensions ahead of the planned protests, the Nigeria Reinasaance Group’s timely and poignant statement serves as a potent reminder of the indispensable need for national unity and the critical importance of constructive dialogue in addressing any grievances within the country,” he added.