The African Network for Peace Progress and Development (ANPPD) has asked the organisers of the scheduled August protest to meet with the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice Presidnt Shetima to lay their grievances before the government.
A press release by the ANPPD President, Prince Elias Odoemena said that the recent Supreme Court judgment against the state governors on the local government autonomy and separation of local government accounts from the the states would go a long way in the development of local communities in Nigeria.
Prince Odoemena said with this judgment, some state governors who took local government monies as personal money and would spend anyhow are not happy with the Judgement.
The ANPPD president noted that the chairmen of of various local governments would now know that it is not business as usual as it concerns sharing of local government money, but time to think on how to add to the development of the local governments they are in charge of, and be ready to account to the communities in the local governments at the expiration of their tenures.
Prince Odoemena said that it takes a President with strong heart to separate Local Government accounts fron that of the States, adding that this is what successive Presidents could do because of powerful nature of Nigeria Governors, and noted that it is wicked and disheartening that those attacking the Tinubu and Shetima Government failed to applaud them on this all important move.
Prince Odoemena said that the Oganisers of the protest should meet with President Tinubu and his Vice Shetima to see how the can resolve and have reduction in Petroleum pump price and electricity bills.
He further said that Nigerians are suffering now and the looming protest will add more to their sufferings and this were where the sitting on the table meeting with Oganisers of the protest comes in and very important.
Prince Odoemena said that Nigeria students suffered a lot as the result of prolonged strike and any protest now will disturb them. ANPPD also said that we should not rule out fear of hudlums hijacking the protest.