Ahead of the planned nationwide protest in August, the Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the Federal Government.
The minister made this appeal on Wednesday following a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. During a briefing with journalists, Mohammed emphasized the government’s engagement with all stakeholders on the issue.
“The government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu supports everyone’s right to freedom within the law. The President does not oppose protests, but he does oppose violence and actions that could harm the wellbeing of Nigerians,” the minister stated, as quoted in a statement by his spokesperson, Rabiu Ibrahim.
“He believes that within the framework of democracy, individuals have the right to act as they see fit, provided their actions do not infringe on the rights of others. The concern with the national protest is the potential for it to escalate into violence, as seen in other parts of the world. We cannot afford to let that happen because some may exploit the situation to break the law.”
While acknowledging the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest, the minister warned that some individuals might attempt to hijack the demonstration to incite trouble. He assured that the Tinubu administration is committed to maintaining public order and protecting the rights of all citizens.
The minister further explained that the President is fully aware of the genuine concerns expressed by Nigerians and is working on implementing effective policies to alleviate the challenges faced by the populace.
Shelve Protest
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians to cancel the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest scheduled for next month. In a message relayed by the Information Minister, Tinubu requested the protest organizers to wait for the government’s response to their grievances.
“The issue of the planned protest—Mr. President does not see any need for that. He’s asked them to shelve that plan and await the government’s response to all their pleas,” the minister conveyed at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
‘Engage Them’
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana suggested that the Federal Government should identify and dialogue with the leaders of the planned protest instead of issuing threats.
“This time around, the government should identify the leaders of the movement and engage them in discussions. The demands being made should be addressed,” Falana said on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“With the time remaining until the first of August, I understand the government plans to address the nation. It is also crucial for governors to communicate their efforts to mitigate the hardships facing the country, which no one denies.”
The protest against economic hardship, gaining traction on social media, is scheduled to be held across all states of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organizers have remained anonymous.
Rising prices of food and basic commodities have exacerbated the economic crisis in Nigeria, driven by the government’s removal of the petrol subsidy and the unification of forex windows. In response, the Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Nigeria Police Force, and the House of Representatives, has issued warnings against the planned demonstration.
Angry youths have organized the protest to voice their frustrations over the hardship, poverty, and high cost of living, among other economic issues.