A member of the All Progressives Congress National Working Committee, Tolu Bankole, has expressed concerns over the safety of Persons With Disabilities ahead of the planned nationwide protest.
Bankole, the ruling party’s national leader saddled with the responsibility of attending to PWDs, made the plea in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
The #EndBadGovernance demonstration, scheduled to run from August 1 to 15, has continued to generate tension and elicit mixed reactions from Nigerians.
Several youths have also indicated interest in turning up for the exercise, which was provoked by the soaring cost of living and economic hardship in the country.
But Bakonle pleaded with both the protest organisers and the Federal Government to exercise restraint and embrace dialogue.
The APC chieftain also appealed to Nigerian youths to jettison the idea of mass action and consider the fate of physically challenged persons who may be stranded as a result of the protest.
He said, “The risk of such demonstrations being hijacked and spiralling into violence is significant, and I stress that our priority should be to engage in constructive dialogue with government officials at all levels. We must avoid a repetition of the unfortunate violence witnessed during the EndSARS movement.
Persons with disabilities are among the most vulnerable in our society, and any violence or disruption from protests could have disproportionately adverse effects on them. It is therefore imperative that we advocate for peaceful methods of engagement to ensure their safety and well-being.
President Bola Tinubu has implemented several policies aimed at revitalizing our economy and improving the standard of living for all Nigerians. I call on all stakeholders to channel their energies into meaningful dialogue and collaboration with the government, rather than risking escalation into violence. Together, we can work towards positive change while safeguarding the rights and lives of every Nigerian.”
(PUNCH)