By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A prominent opposition leader in Nigeria has expressed his support for the proposed nationwide anti-government protest scheduled to commence August 1 across the 36 states of the country and the capital, FCT.
Peter Obi, a former governor of South East Anambra State was the presidential candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 election won by the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), the incumbent President Bola Tinubu, another former governor of South West Lagos State.
Obi who has been accused by a top aide of President Tinubu of being the sponsor of the protest aimed at drawing the attention of government to the growing hunger and economic challenges in the West African nation however warned against violence, saying demonstrations should be done within the confines of the law.
“In Nigerian Constitution, protest is allowed,” Obi told local media on Sunday during a courtesy visit to Abia’s governor Alex Otti in South East region.
“All I plea for those who are protesting is to do so within the law and in a civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live within the law.”
Acknowledging that things are difficult in the country, he said: “We all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through”.
The LP chief argued that people do protest in his house, but did not identify who the people are to specify the manner of protest.
He called on security agencies to provide cover for the protesters, urging them to operate within the ambit of the law.
“What I will say to security agencies is that they should manage the situation again within the law. We should not strive to be overbearing.
“There is nothing wrong (with protesting). Protest is allowed everywhere globally. I also say (that) people protest in my house. It is for us to listen to those who are protesting.
“Why are they protesting? Engage them, that is what governance is all about. You talk with them, there is nothing wrong in that,” he added.
Heritage Times HT reports that athorities have urged that the planned protest be called off to avert violence, but youths in the country who say they draw inspiration from Kenya where youths have taken to the streets to demand effective leadership have vowed to go ahead with to protest.
Police authorities and the army have said they would resist attempt to cause violence in the guise of demonstration.
They warned that the destruction that characterized the 2020 protest targeted at police brutality will not be allowed to occur again.
Civil society organizations have also called on the security agencies to protect protesters from harm and avoid denying them their constitutional rights to protest.
