Shettima to Nigerians: Shun Planned Nationwide Protests

Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to shun the planned nationwide protests scheduled to begin on August 1, 2024, saying it is time for unity and focused development in the country.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on our people to eschew violence. There can never be development without peace; there can never be peace without development. I wish to implore all our youths not to follow the part of anarchy, of destruction,” Shettima said.

Speaking at a wedding ceremony in Maiduguri, Borno State, Shettima emphasized that protests have never been a solution for nations to solve their challenges, but rather an avenue for destruction of human lives and properties. He called for peace and unity, saying, “We have had enough challenges in Borno, in the subregion and the nation as a whole. This is a time for unity, this is a time for focused development.”

Shettima also commended the Governor of Borno State for his efforts in addressing developmental deficits and bringing succour to the downtrodden. He said, “For the people of Borno, I will ask them to rally round our governor who is working tirelessly to address our developmental deficits and also bring succour to the downtrodden.”

The Vice President noted that the masterminds of the proposed nationwide protest were operating from outside the country, citing examples of Sudan, Syria, and Libya. He said, “They are not in this country; we need to learn a lot of lessons from what happened in Syria and in Libya. So, what they are agitating for is a road to Khartoum, what they are agitating for is a road to Damascus, what they are clamouring for is a part to Tripoli, and, Insha Allah, the people of Nigeria will not dance to the tune of these anarchists and saboteurs.”

Shettima assured that President Tinubu remains committed to pulling the nation out of the woods and improving the welfare and lives of Nigerians drastically. He said, “President Tinubu feels the pulse of the nation and remained committed to making the nation’s challenges mostly inherited over the years a thing of the past.”

The Vice President also wished the new couples a blissful married life, saying, “We wish them peace; we are wishing them marital bliss. May Allah bless all the unions with offspring that will be the eyes of all the Ummah and of the families. And we believe that, Insha Allah, the marriage will be hugely blessed by the Almighty Allah.”