President Bola Tinubu has signed yet another approval, this time for a youth secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Given the wave of protests planned across the nation, one can’t help but wonder if this is a genuine effort to engage with the youth or a tactic to avoid a Kenyan-style uprising in Nigeria. The President seems to be signing papers faster than he can read them.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, during a town hall meeting at Bwari Area Council, announced this development. The meeting aimed to mobilize youths against the upcoming hunger protest. Wike, seemingly in a bid to placate the youth, had earlier held similar town hall meetings in the Abuja Municipal and Abaji Area Councils. There, he assured the youth that he would push their requests to the President, boasting about the young appointees in his cabinet, including two indigenous FCT citizens.
Wike also mentioned his successful appeal to have an indigene appointed as the Head of the FCT Public Complaints Commission, which Tinubu approved. Praising the youth for choosing dialogue over protest, Wike said, “Let me thank you for saying that you prefer to dialogue, you prefer to talk to each other instead of going to the streets. That shows your maturity, that shows your understanding and support for the administration.”
During a previous meeting in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Wike promised a youth secretariat, confidently stating, “I know that when I meet Mr. President, he will approve.” And indeed, after a meeting with Tinubu, Wike returned with the news that the President had given his nod.
“The President has the capacity; he has never denied that there are no challenges. He said there are challenges but we must be patient as he goes to solve and tackle these challenges,” Wike added.
As we approach August 1, the date set for the protests, it’s curious to see the government’s efforts to sponsor dialogues and initiatives to quell the protest.
