A chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the government to focus on its responsibilities instead of worrying about an imaginary nationwide protest, stating, “no one is planning any protest.”
Olayinka, a PDP House of Representatives candidate in last year’s general elections, remarked in a statement on Friday that “protests are not planned and held by giving one month notice,” adding, “it is either the government is distracting itself over nothing or the noise about the protest is being used to distract Nigerians.
Read Also :How to Apply for NNPC Recruitment: Link to Apply for NNPC Latest Job Vacancies
He described peaceful protest as a fundamental right of all Nigerians, noting that “President Bola Tinubu, who himself is a product of political protests, will not prevent Nigerians from exercising their rights to complain to the government using the instrument of peaceful protest.”
Olayinka said, “Protests are spontaneous reactions to issues, not what is planned for months. The one in Kenya was a spontaneous reaction to the passage of a bill to impose more taxes on the people. It did not start months after the bill had been passed; it started immediately.
“Therefore, the government and its agencies should stop promoting and advertising an imaginary protest that I am not sure anyone is planning. Or how many Nigerians were aware of any protest before the government started speaking about it?
Pay Attention To: When will Tinubu Sign N70,000 Minimum Wage Bill into Law? Date Revealed
“It thus appears to me that the government seems to be promoting a non-existent or imaginary protest. The government, yes, must take responsibility for the state of the nation, particularly our sick economy, but all Nigerians are culpable, and we must all work together to rescue the country.”
While lamenting that the noise about the protest has become a kind of money-making venture, Olayinka said, “After August 2, the government will stop bothering itself about an imaginary protest. By then, too, those using a protest that no one is planning to cash out must have cashed out enough, and they will allow Nigerians to have peace.”
He found it amusing that security agencies, which could not protect Nigerians against terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, are now very active, issuing numerous press statements.
“All the noise from security agencies is just targeted at being ‘mobilized’. They know that there won’t be any protest. Or aren’t we being told now that over 4,000 policemen will be deployed in Abuja alone?”
Olayinka urged the government to continue engaging with the people and to set an example rather than issuing warnings and blaming opposition elements.
Apply for NNPC job vacancies
He said, “The truth is, the problems of Nigeria are so many and overwhelming to be solved overnight by any government. However, the public will have more trust in the government when they see that people in government are also making sacrifices.
“While the public’s right to protest is helpful to keep the government in check, it is also meaningful if we work and act within the ambits of the law; otherwise, it will be counterproductive and set us back further.”
