End Bad Governance: ‘Nigeria’s Problems Beyond Protests’, Former Presidential Candidate Speaks Out
- Some Nigerians are gearing up for a nationwide protest in August over the economic hardship allegedly caused by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's policies
- SDP's Barrister Adewole Adebayo acknowledged that the right to peaceful assembly is constitutionally guaranteed
- However, Barr. Adebayo asserted that it is not every right that citizens have that they can exercise
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering governance.
FCT, Abuja - Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 election, has said Nigeria’s problems are beyond protests.
Legit.ng reports that as in Kenya, organisers of the proposed Nigerian protests have been largely faceless, calling for the 'End Bad Governance' protests using online platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter).
Source: Twitter
'Protest won't solve Nigeria's problem' - Adebayo
In the West African country, the main complaint concerns the soaring cost of living, which many Nigerians blame on government economic policies.
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President Bola Tinubu scrapped the fuel subsidy in 2023 causing food and commodity prices to increase.
Speaking in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune published on Friday, July 26, Adebayo said the actual problem is that "the direction that the political class is taking Nigerians to is wrong".
The SDP chieftain stated that if citizens don’t change that direction, they will be protesting without tangible results.
He said:
“Freedom of expression and association is there. However, it is not every right you have that you can exercise. My perspective is that you can protest but the quagmire that we have, goes beyond protesting.
"The quagmire we find ourselves in Nigeria is that the direction that the political class is taking Nigerians to is wrong and if we don’t change that direction, we will be taking turns to protest.”
Hardship protest: Ex-rep aspirant takes stand
Meanwhile, AbdulWaheed Omotayo Odunuga, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) candidate for Kosofe federal constituency in the 2023 election, said the power of a peaceful protest cannot be overstated, and it is through peaceful means that Nigeria can achieve lasting and meaningful change.
Odunuga told Legit.ng:
"We call on the government to show compassion and urgency in addressing the legitimate demands of the protesters.
"These demands, which reflect the collective yearnings for good governance, accountability, and transparency, must not be ignored.
"The government should see this protest as an opportunity to bridge the gap between the leaders and the citizens, fostering a more inclusive and responsive governance system."
Read more on planned hardship protest
- Hardship protest: Reps advise Tinubu on what to do with protesters
- Hardship protest: FG finally opens up on how to handle youths uprising
- Hardship: “Why Tinubu does not want protest”, minister opens up
Protest ‘not billed to end in peace’ - Bwala
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Barr. Daniel Bwala, a former presidential campaign spokesperson to Atiku Abubakar, said a nationwide protest is not necessary at this point.
Bwala stated this after meeting with President Tinubu at the Aso presidential villa in Abuja.
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Source: Legit.ng
