By EMMANUEL MOGBEDE

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described Monday’s protest in Minna and Kano as a display of desperation by the opposition to portray the Federal Government as under-performing.

Mr Felix Morka, the APC National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

“Opposition parties have resorted to instigating unsuspecting young people to protest in the streets of some major cities.

“The protests in Minna and Kano on Monday were manifestations of this devious and unpatriotic plot. It was not coincidental that the protests happened simultaneously in both cities.

“It bears a bold stamp of an orchestrated and coordinated effort to instigate unrest and undermine the government.

“This mercenary opposition tactics is a clear threat to public peace and national security,” Morka said.

He added that while the APC recognised the right of citizens to engage in peaceful protest, there was need for people to remain vigilant.

He urged Nigerians to be vigilant and not lend themselves to attempt by the opposition to promote social strife by its incendiary rhetoric and manipulative plots.

Morka assured that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration was committed to doing everything possible to mitigate the transient pains and engage in important reforms for economic recovery and sustainability for all Nigerians.

“It behooves us as good citizens of our beloved country, to stand fast with our government in this noble stride.

“In due time, these policy reforms would yield enduring beneficial transformation of the material conditions of life in the country.

“We implore Nigerians to shun the guile and unpatriotic attempt by opposition elements to destabilise the country for their own base and parochial political gains,” Morka said. (NAN)