It is raining protests in Nigeria, and the media is ablaze with news about the upcoming nationwide demonstrations. But Nigerians, are you panicking yet?
What They Are Saying
As the planned nationwide protest in August approaches, Minister for Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has called for patience with the Federal Government. He made this plea on Wednesday after a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
Speaking to journalists, Mohammed assured that the government is engaging with all stakeholders. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in everyone’s freedom within the laws to do what they think is right for them. Therefore, the President is not against protests but opposes violence and anything that will harm the wellbeing of Nigerians,” he said in a statement by his spokesperson, Rabiu Ibrahim.
The minister emphasized that within a democracy, everyone has the right to protest as long as it does not infringe on others’ rights. However, he cautioned against potential violence, stating, “We know that it’s almost impossible to hold this protest and then have peace at the end of the day. Some people are waiting to take the laws into their own hands.”
Despite acknowledging the right to protest, the government is wary of those planning to hijack the demonstration to cause trouble. The Bola Tinubu administration is committed to ensuring these activities do not disrupt public order or violate others’ rights.
Why It Matters
President Tinubu has urged Nigerians to shelve the planned ‘EndBadGovernance’ protest scheduled for next month. He asked the protest organizers to wait for his response to their complaints. This message was relayed by the Information Minister at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana has suggested that the Federal Government should engage with the protest leaders instead of issuing threats. He said on Channels Television’s Politics Today, “The government should try to identify the leaders of the movement and then engage them. Address the demands being made.”
The protest against economic hardship, fueled by social media, is set to take place across all states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in August. The organizers remain anonymous. This comes as Nigerians grapple with rising food prices and an economic crisis triggered by the government’s policies on petrol subsidy removal and forex window unification.
The Federal Government, through the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Police Force, and the House of Representatives, has warned against the planned demonstration. Despite these warnings, angry youths are determined to protest against the hardship, poverty, and high cost of living.
Stay tuned to see how this unfolds.
