The founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Boniface Aniebonam, has appealed to aggrieved Nigerian youths to exercise patience with the government on issues leading to the planned nationwide protest.

Mr Aniebonam, in a statement in Lagos on Sunday, said that any protest now might be counterproductive.

August 1 has been slated for the commencement of a nationwide protest tagged #EndBadGovernance, #EndHardship, by unidentified groups across the country, who cite hardship and bad governance as the reasons for their protest.

The NNPP chieftain noted that while peaceful protest was a fundamental human right in Nigeria, the organisers could not guarantee that it would not be hijacked.

“We must understand that what we cannot get peacefully is equally impossible through violence. If we succeed through violence, it may not last.

“Indeed, peaceful protest is part of democratic principles to advance good governance in a civil society. However, the situation may become violent.”

According to Mr Aniebonam, a responsible government may not want any protest to get started in the first instance because of the unknown.

“President Bola Tinubu told us that the hope of a greater Nigeria of our dreams is renewed. What is left for us is to work hard, make sacrifices and support our leader because he cannot do it alone.

“What is certain is that the poverty level in Nigeria is quite high and the greater numbers are really suffering.

“The NNPP believes there is truly hope for a greater Nigeria of our dreams.”

The NNPP founder, however, urged the Federal Government to urgently increase its response rate to the agitations of the greater numbers.

“This simply means that the government should, as a matter of urgency, open up channels of engagement with the organised leadership of the national and state youth wings and listen to their grievances with a view to addressing them.

“Educate and enlighten Nigerians about efforts and challenges of the government in making life more meaningful.

“We must drastically reduce the cost of governance and life styles of all elected people and government functionaries.

“This has to happen urgently because the lifestyle of public officials is one of the remote causes of the agitations; it is provoking, especially when the greater numbers are suffering.

“The high cost of fuel should also be addressed and electricity supply increased to enable small-scale businesses to thrive.

“Anti-corruption activities must be effectively activated and good examples shown to the citizens that government is really very serious no matter who is involved.”

According to him, the government should also take a second look at the issue of providing security for individuals to the detriment of the greater numbers while ensuring adequate welfare of the police personnel to encourage them.

“We must get the local farmers back to their villages to enable their farming businesses; insecurity in Nigeria needs to be effectively tackled and brought to a manageable level,” he added.

(NAN)