Against the backdrop of the impending August 1 nationwide protests against hardship in the country, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed political officeholders from the South-West zone to return to their various bases and interface with their people on efforts being made by President Bola Tinubu to reform the nation’s economy.

The APC South-West Zonaal Executive Committee, in an emergency meeting held in Akure, the Ondo State capital, warned against turning South-West into the theatre of violent protests.

In a communique signed by the national vice chairman/zonal chairman, Southwest APC, Hon. Isaac Kekemeke, and zonal secretary Hon. Vincent Bewaji, a copy which was made available to LEADERSHIP on Monday, the party
pleaded with Nigerians to “bear these temporary hardships and pains with patience and equanimity.”

While assuring that, in no time, the pains would give way to meaningful livelihood for all Nigerians, the party called on leaders of the South-West including traditional rulers, leaders of opposition parties, elite, trade union leaders, market women, students, and religious leaders to stand up and protect all socio-economic interests of the zone.

Pointedly, the ruling party condemned the call for change of a democratically-elected government outside of election and other legally provided procedures, describing the move as “unconstitutional, illegal, undemocratic, and provocative.”

According to APC, “Election losers, their supporters, and sympathizers must learn to wait for the next round of elections.”

The party said, “We recognise that every Nigerian has a right under our Constitution to peaceful protest and express himself or herself over the programme(s) of government.

“The Party in the Zone notes the giant and monumental steps already taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to give socio-economiconomic direction to Nigeria to ultimately ensure prosperity and abundance for all Nigerians.

“The Party in the Zone further notes that, as to be expected, the monumental structural economic changes undertaken by the government have brought hardship to a great number of Nigerians. Members of the party in the Southwest are not insulated from the pains and hardship.

“The Party, while acknowledging the right of all those who abode/live in the Southwest to peaceful protest, calls on all South westerners both home and abroad to refuse to allow the Southwest of Nigeria to be used as a theatre of war or Centre of criminality via violent protests. The destruction of the economic and industrial heritages of the Southwest, which is yet to recover from the destruction during the End-SARS protest, is instructive.

“The Party calls on leaders of the Southwest including traditional rulers, leaders of opposition parties, Elites, Union leaders, market women, students, and Religious leaders in the Southwest to stand up and protect all socio-economic interests of the South West by ensuring that no violent protests of any sort are held in any part of the Southwest.

“The party in the zone urges all State chapters of the Party in the Southwest to continue to sensitize members of the Party and the public in their States on the need to keep the peace and tranquility in the region.

“The Party in the Zone calls on government officials from the Zone who are politicians to return to their various base to interface and explain the government’s sincere motives to their people.

“The Party in the Zone pledges its loyalty to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and commends his bold, courageous, foresighted leadership of Nigeria. The Party encourages the President to continue, while doggedly executing the renewed hope agenda, to be mindful, of the present hardship facing Nigerians and to as characteristic of him, be flexible in addressing the negative consequences of government desirable programmes on ordinary Nigerians.”