Peter Obi, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate and the ex-Governor of Anambra State. He made his support for the nationwide protest on August 1st public during a meeting with Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, at his ranch in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
Obi underlined the significance of peaceful protest, agreeing to the constitutional right of participating in demonstrations and insisted, “The Nigeria Constitution has made a provision for the protest.” He warned demonstrators and asked them to follow the laws and behave civilly.
The former governor said that it was clear that the major causes of the protest were widespread hunger and hopelessness among the youth. He urged the authorities to involve them by going to the protesters, listening to them, and addressing their problems.
Obi stressed how essential protests are as they act as a channel for the manifestation of grievances, elaborating, “You can protest peacefully. There is no crime in that.” He shared a personal story and said people also protest at his house, making the point that protesters should be listened to.
Additionally, Obi has made a call to the security agencies to provide security for the protestors. He argued that the people’s rights should be respected, and they should be able to protest without being endangered. He emphasized the need for the performance of security personnel within the boundaries of the law and abstaining from excessive force.
In Peter Obi’s opinion, such actions as the demonstration across Nigeria show solidarity and demonstrate his loyalty to democratic principles and the right to peaceful demonstrations. His call for talks to mediate the conflict between the leaders and the people aims to address the underlying causes of the people’s complaints at local levels.
