The Nigerian Civil Society Forum has declared that it would not allow the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to plunge the country into anarchy.
TheHintsNews reports that the labour union had fixed next Tuesday and Wednesday to protest against inflation and the hardship in the country.
But addressing journalists on Friday in Abuja during a solidarity walk from Unity Fountain to the National Assembly gate, the group called on Nigerians to jettission the nationwide protest called by the union.
The Convener of the group, Terrence Kuanum, said the planned nationwide protest by NLC was an act of sabotage.
He stated: “What is happening is sabotage and we already anticipated this sabotage because few Nigerians were benefiting immensely from this subsidy regime and insecurity that was in this country.
“I am hungry, you are hungry but it is not by sabotaging the system or antagonising the system that we can resolve this issue. We can only resolve this issue as patriotic Nigerians that are concerned that we need to resolve this problem and the generation next to us doesn’t face it.”
“We are giving them 24 hours to rescind the decision of the protest and go back to the table that we have agreed that they should be on it. If they come ouy, we are calling on Nigerians not to respect any decision that will come from NLC and TUC because we are going to mobilise the masses to stay back and work for this country.”
Also, the Co-convener, Sunday Attah, said calling for protest against a government that is just eight months in office was uncalled for.
His words: “We must understand the trajectory of how the NLC has operated over time. Remember in this same country when fuel subsidy was removed they got up and claimed to be standing for Nigerians.
“They fought and said fuel subsidy should not be removed but after a series of meetings, which of course today they are saying didn’t yield any fruit, we know how these ‘colour’ paper exchanged hands and matters died on the ground.
“We are not going to allow the NLC to plunge Nigeria into anarchy. Calling for protest against an eight months old government is uncalled for. The president is doing all his best, he is not a magician, all that Nigerians need at the moment is to be patient with president. When a woman gets pregnant it takes nine months for her to deliver and when the child is born it takes another one to two years for the child to walk.”
Attah added that in the United Kingdom, the British econy is in recession, and yet people are not protesting against the government?
