President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has made a public appeal to citizens to cancel a planned nationwide protest against economic hardship and bad governance, scheduled for August 1-10. The protest, dubbed ‘EndBadGovernance’, has gained momentum on social media, with various groups organizing it in response to rising costs of living and economic struggles.Tinubu, through his Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has asked for more time to address the country’s issues and implement his plans. ‘The President does not think there’s a need for any protest at this time,’ Idris stated, urging young people to ‘listen to the President and give him more time to be able to implement the programs and policies of the administration’.The government’s response has ranged from appeals for patience to warnings of ‘sinister motives’ behind the protests. In a speech delivered on his behalf, Tinubu claimed that ‘some men and women with sinister motives have been reported to have been mobilising citizens, particularly youths, to stage a protest’. His camp has accused supporters of defeated presidential candidate Peter Obi of planning the protests, an allegation Obi’s Labour Party has denied.Opposition figures and some activists have defended the constitutional right to peaceful protest. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, stating that ‘any attempt to suppress the right to peaceful protest is not only unconstitutional but also a direct affront to the principles of democracy’.The situation remains tense, with some government supporters threatening to ‘resist those who want to burn down Nigeria’. As the planned protest dates approach, the government’s ability to address economic grievances and maintain public order will be closely watched.
Key points
- President Tinubu has appealed to citizens to cancel planned nationwide protests scheduled for August 1-10.
- The government claims ‘sinister motives’ behind the protests, while opposition defends the right to peaceful demonstration.
- Economic hardship and rising costs of living are the primary drivers of the planned protests.
Contradictions👾While the government appeals for cancellation of protests, citing the need for more time, opposition figures defend the constitutional right to peaceful protest, creating tension between government appeals and citizen rights.
