The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Obiora Ifoh, in a statement, said it was wrong of Onanuga to link the LP and its national leader to the protest.
In an interview, Ifoh said the Presidency and security agents must tread carefully as any threat to clamp down on the people might be counter-productive.
LP against violence
He said, “As a party, we are not going to support any violent protest. But there is nothing wrong with a peaceful demonstration. What is important is that people should be allowed to speak their minds because we are in a democracy.
“Demonstration is backed by the law of the land. Freedom of speech and freedom of association is guaranteed all over the world, including the United States, the UK, Kenya and others.
“We saw what happened in Kenya a few weeks ago where people spoke their minds peacefully and the Kenyan government did the right thing. Nobody is asking for violence. Everybody that goes into violent protests should be made to pay the price. But we are insisting on allowing Nigerians to speak their mind through peaceful means.
“However, if there is any plan by anybody to introduce violence from any side, even from the government, that can never be part of it. That is our stance.”
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, described peaceful protests as the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens.
Atiku, the PDP’s 2023 Presidential candidate, emphasised the legal basis for public demonstrations in a post on X on Tuesday, saying, “For the avoidance of doubt, the rights of citizens to protest are enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and affirmed by our courts.”
He cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which “unequivocally guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and association.”
The former Vice President criticised attempts to discourage or prevent the protests.
He stated, “Chasing shadows and contriving purported persons behind the planned protests is an exercise in futility when it is obvious that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are caught up in the hunger, anger, and hopelessness brought about by the incompetence and cluelessness of this government.
“It is deeply ironic that those who now seek to stifle these rights were themselves leading protests in 2012.”
The statement further called on the government to fulfil its responsibilities in safeguarding the citizens’ rights.
“A responsible government must ensure a safe and secure environment for citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest,” Atiku stated.
“Any attempt to suppress these rights is not only unconstitutional but a direct affront to our democracy,” he declared.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, also cautioned the authorities against restraining the youths from protesting, describing it as a response to the absence of good governance.
In an interview on Tuesday, Osadolor stated that the PDP did not support or oppose the planned protests, and urged Tinubu to resign if he was unable to resolve Nigeria’s problems.
The opposition party chieftain stated, “President Bola Tinubu should realise that when he led protests with the Save Nigeria groups during President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, there was no law and nobody prevented him from protesting peacefully.
“Again, if there was good governance, nobody would protest. It is the absence of good governance that Nigerian youths are angry about. The economy is in jeopardy, more Nigerians are losing their jobs as a result of failed government policies, and there is hunger and anger in the land. And months after the removal of the fuel subsidy, the government has failed to come up with cushioning measures.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
