SDP backs planned protest on economic hardship

The leadership of the Social Democratic Party has thrown its weight behind the planned nationwide protest against the economic hardship in the country.

The National Chairman of the SDP, Shehu Gabam, announced this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Gabam, who lamented that so many Nigerians are undergoing hardship, said the demonstration was in the interest of the masses.

His concern comes one week after the Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, exonerated President Bola Tinubu from the inflation and economic challenge ravaging the country.

Uzodimma insisted it would be unfair for anybody to blame the president, arguing that the biting hardship is a global phenomenon and not limited to Nigeria.

But speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday, Gabam disclosed that his party has endorsed the protest to show solidarity with the Nigerians.

This was even as he appealed for the protesters to conduct themselves peacefully to avoid having the planned demonstration hijacked.

According to him, the struggle for a better Nigeria should be the responsibility of all irrespective of political differences or ethnic background.

He said, “Being conscious that we have no other country except Nigeria, we in the Social Democratic Party support the protest. We also call on all security agencies to be civil in responding to the yearnings and concerns of millions of Nigerians.

“They must stay aware that the protesters are their brothers and sisters not enemies of the state. We believe in the welfare and the future of the country. They must also remember that we share the same markets, hospitals, burden of school fees, bills, and groceries by implication.

“The struggle for a better Nigeria is the responsibility of all irrespective of our political differences and dispositions.”

Continuing, the SDP chairman emphasised that the party would continue to call on the government to stand with the people and fight for a better country where everyone has access to opportunities, justice, and prosperity.

Meanwhile, a civil society organization has warned the groups and individuals behind the planned protest to shelve the move.

The group appealed that the organizers should instead seek a strategic engagement and collaboration with the government to mitigate the effects of the hardship.

The convener of the Door-to-Door Youth and Women Initiative for Good Governance, Khadija Yusuf, made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja.

She said, “As the call for the #EndBadGovernance protest gains momentum, I urge you to channel your remarkable strength and wisdom towards dialogue, collaboration, and constructive engagement.

“While protest remains a fundamental right of every citizen as enshrined in our constitution, it is evident that beyond genuine complaints, these recent calls to protest have been highly sensationalized and carry glaring political undertones.

“We must be aware that some of the voices pushing for these protests are those who have lost in the political arena and are desperate to plunge our country into crisis for their gain. We must not allow our genuine desire for progress to be hijacked by those with ulterior motives as we saw in some protests in recent years.

“Our voices are valid, and our concerns are genuine. Our current reality and hunger level in the land stretch beyond social or economic strata. However, the narrative in our media spaces, mainly social media, has exposed a sinister plot to cause anarchy in the land, banking on our diversity.”