Endbadgovernance Protests: Presidency Orders Govs, Monarchs to Ensure Failure –Sources

Ahead of this Thursday, August 1, impending national protests, governors of the 36 states of the federation and traditional rulers have been given matching orders to ensure they break the ranks of the protesters, Sunday Telegraph can report.

This would see them holding meetings with some critical stakeholders in their states and domains, albeit surreptitiously.

This was one of the highlights of the separate meetings President Bola Ahmed Tinubu held with some traditional rulers and governors in Aso Villa last week.

A source close to one of those, who attended the meeting, confided in the Newspaper that the presidency was desirous of nipping the protest in the bud as it was convinced that there was more to it.

The source said: “The presidency has given a matching order to the governors to do everything to ensure that those close to them continue to reach out to the protesters.

“The presidency believes that the #EndBadgovernance protest is nothing but political. That it was instigated by those not comfortable with some of the decisions of government and some of the policies of government and it is also one of the ways to set the states for bigger trouble in the polity.”

The Source continued: “The security agencies have matching orders to ensure that if matters degenerate, they should effectively and quickly hold the people whom they believe are behind what is going on.”

Furthermore, Sunday Telegraph gathered that the governors were to roll out different palliative measures to quicken those that have already been agreed on, so that it would bring some succour to the people.

“They felt that it was not about protesting about hunger. This is a protest instigated by political opponents across party lines from within the APC and from without, who are bent on disrupting the country’s peace for their political end.

“There are fears that it could degenerate and the military command is on red alert and to move in if there is breakdown of law and order in any part of the country.

“The governors were told to work hand-in- hand with their police commissioners and that they should not see it as not being concerned. They should see it as a ‘fight’ for the peace and development of the country because those who are planning it(Protest) are bent on ensuring that everything comes to a standstill.

“In the next few days, you will see meetings across party lines. The governors will also meet with some key stakeholders in their states like the president had done by meeting some high-level traditional leaders.

“The governors will also do the same in their states and some of these meetings will not be broadcast.

“It should be done surreptitiously and then some friendly non-governmental organisations are also being reached out to.”

Furthermore, the governors were told that they should not give out the Palliatives on a party basis or go and warehouse them but on a general basis.

“The president told them that he got reports that the rice that was given to some states was shared along party lines. Some were not even shared at all; were just stored in the government warehouses. They have told them to roll out those consignments immediately.

Between today(Friday) Saturday and Sunday, the governors will be meeting with identified critical stakeholders. They are being told to break the protests in whatever way they can do it or to minimise the impacts on the polity.”

Source: New Telegraph