Deborah Ocheni 
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pleaded with Nigerian students to embrace peace, shelve protests and protect the nation’s properties.
The President who was represented by the senior special Assistant to the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Student Engagement, Asefon Sunday Adedayo made this known at a town hall meeting on the proposed protest organized by the National Association of Nigerian Students in collaboration with the Wells Carlton Hotels and Apartment held on Tuesday in Abuja.
“The Tinubu administration is just a year and 4 months. In the history of Nigeria, this is the first administration that gives opportunity to young people to thrive politically as we have more than 120 Senior Special Assistants in this administration comprising of youths.
“Instead of staging a protest, youths need to ask their management questions because the bad elements who are not okay with Tinubu’s policies that are targeted at a better life for the masses are the ones syphoning what is meant to better the nation.
He noted that dialogue is the best approach to apply in this situation because government is not rocket science. Noting that things have been spoilt for many years. “Be patient with President Tinubu as he has a very big pot and he is cooking something that will benefit all. Do not join a faceless protest that has no leader”.
Similarly, the former president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Udens Evadiri has stressed that rather than protest, discussions should be channelled to what the youths want from the president.
“Let’s ask to know what engagements are going on with youths, let us request that the border should be open for food to come in, let’s call for reduction of import fees so that imported goods can be affordable, let us demand a ban in dollars’ usage because the governors are stealing money that is generated from the fuel subsidy, there are total neglects of governors to their people. If we must protest, let us protect our properties because it is our money.
He appreciated the convener of the meeting, Osahon Okubo, chairman of Wells Carlton Hotels and Apartment for calling for such a crucial and timely meeting.
Other stakeholders at the meeting proposed that fuel subsidy should be returned as that will automatically bring down the cost of food items.
