Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has affirmed the right of Nigerians to embark on protest over their grievances but cautioned that it is too early to protest against the government of President Bola Tinubu.
He made the assertion at the presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday after leading the presentation of former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, to the president following his recent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The federal government is currently trying to dissuade Nigerians who have stated their intention to embark on a protest over the rising cost of living in the country.
Speaking to correspondents after the meeting with the president, Uzodimma said those behind the protests have not been able to clearly state their reasons for the action.
He also averred that the political climate in the country is too fragile, noting that a protest may lead to its collapse if not well managed.
The Imo governor stated: “Democracy is about opinion of the people and the protest is allowed in a democratic setting.
“Every protest must be reasonably conceived to be able to make political sense.
“I think it’s too early at this time in the life of this government for anybody to come out to say he wants to protest.
“First of all, there has not been any engagement where those who are sponsoring the protest were able to tell us the reasons for the protests. “Secondly, given the global situation today and the insecurity in the country, we have a very fragile political environment that if not managed and protected very well, may collapse the entire country.
“So, those who are going to protest, what is the reason for the protests? And if they have no reason for the protests, I think I will advise, well-meaning Nigerians, citizens of this country who are making sacrifices, some of us have paid the supreme price for the existence of this country, we should guide our country very jealously.
“I think it is wrong time for anybody to do any protests because the implication of doing that, if care is not taken, is that it may be hijacked, like the #EndSARS experience where criminals now hijacked an innocently conceived agitation by young Nigerians.
“So, this is another kind of temptation that I think those behind the protests because they have not been able to come out openly to say they’re behind it, there is a motive that is yet to be unravelled.
“So, I think that we are not in support of the protest, we are not going to support any protest that has no programme, that is not discussed that nobody knows what the problem is. “Okay, if you are protesting, what do you want government to do? Because the reason for protests is that they want an issue to be addressed. What are the issues?
“So, in my view, I think there is no need to overheat the polity, overheat our environment and put our people in a position that the hardship that is occasioned by economic recession all over the world is further worsened. So, I advise against the protests.”
Details later…
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