The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has appealed to Nigerians to postpone the action and give the Federal Government more time.
The monarch made the call in a statement on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Osaigbovo Iguobaro.
He also asked the Federal Government to speed up efforts in implementing its economic policies to ease the current hardship faced by Nigerians.
“Arising from the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) held in Abuja on Monday, July 22, the Omo N’Oba wishes to appeal to the general public to give the Federal Government sufficient time to implement its economic policies aimed at alleviating the present hardship experienced by Nigerians,” he said.
“The Omo N’Oba appeals to those planning the August 1st nationwide protest to shelve the plan. The Omo N’Oba also urges the Federal Government to intensify efforts in the implementation of its economic and security policies.”
The protest against economic hardship, which is gaining traction on social media, has been scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organisers of the protest have been faceless.
Prices of food and basic commodities have gone through the roof in the last months, as Nigerians battle one of the country’s worst inflation and economic crisis sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.
The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and the Nigeria Police Force as well as the House of Representatives have warned against the planned demonstration.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and embattled Senator Ali Ndume asked the President to address the demands of the displeased persons, who are mostly youths.
Meanwhile, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga on Saturday warned that the planned protest, if staged, could degenerate into the destruction of assets that trailed the EndSARS protest against police brutality and extrajudicial killings in October 2020.