Why FG Opposes Nationwide Protest – Information Minister

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has explained that the fear of possible hijack of the planned nation wide protest  by miscreants is reason why it is oppose to it.

Some Nigerians under #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria# have threatened to embark on protest over the prevailing economic realities in the country from August 1 to 10, 2024.

Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, said the government was aware of the plan by some people to hijack the protest to cause trouble.

The minister, however, said Nigerians had the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest.

Idris spoke when he received the Charismatic Bishop Conference on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Wednesday.

He pointed out that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration acknowledged the rights of every Nigerian to engage in protests.

A statement by his spokesperson, Rabiu Ibrahim, quoted  the minister to have said: “You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in everyone’s freedom within the laws to do what he thinks is right for him.

“Therefore, the President is not an opponent of protest of any kind but the President is an opponent of violence and anything that will negatively hamper the wellbeing of Nigerians.

“He believes and he has always been saying that within the tenets of democracy, you have every right to do whatever you want to do provided that right does not infringe on another person’s right.

“Why everybody is very cautious and very weary of this national protest is because we have seen what has happened around the world. We know that it’s almost impossible to hold this protest and then have peace at the end of the day.

“We cannot do that because some people are waiting to take the laws into their own hands.”