A presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has urged the Nigerian government to engage with protesters and listen to their grievances.
Obi, a former Anambra State Governor, made this call during a courtesy visit to Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, ahead of the nationwide protest scheduled for August.
Obi’s call for government engagement with protesters comes at a time when the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria movement gains momentum across the country, with protesters set to take to the streets in all 36 states and the federal capital from August 1 to 10.
The planned protest is poised to be a nationwide show of discontent over the escalating cost of living, deepening poverty, and soaring inflation.
However, President Bola Tinubu has appealed to irate youths to abandon the protest, while the military and police have issued warnings against violent demonstrations.
Obi, however, noted that protests are a constitutional right and a global phenomenon, stating, “In Nigerian Constitution, protest is allowed.”
Obi noted that “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.”
The LP candidate identified hunger and hopelessness among youths as the forces behind the protest, calling on the government to address these issues through dialogue and engagement
“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 that there is nothing wrong with people engaging in protest, noting that people do protest in his house, but he did not identify who the people are to specify the manner of protest.
Obi, however, called on security agencies to provide cover for the protesters and urged them to operate within the ambit of the law.
“What I will say to security agencies is that they manage the situation again within the law. We should not strive to be overbearing.”
He did, however, warn against violence, stating that such demonstrations should be held within the confines of the law.
