Fear In Nigeria’s Political Camp Over #EndBadGovernance Protest

There is palpable fear among Nigerian political officeholders ahead of the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest scheduled to start on August 1.

President Bola Tinubu, his aides and members of his cabinet have issued threats to citizens warning against the planned protests. They have also held several meetings with governors, security chiefs, traditional rulers and various stakeholders nationwide to avert the protest.

The #EndBadGovernance protest scheduled to start on August 1 is a nationwide peaceful demonstration planned by Civil Society Organisations and concerned youth groups to protest against hunger, corruption, and bad governance.

The President had pleaded for suspending the protest; he also met with traditional rulers, seeking patience from the populace. However, his aides, including Segun Dada, his Special Assistant on Social Media, and Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, have threatened pushback.

On Wednesday, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, warned against violent protests. On Thursday, the Nigerian Army issued a statement cautioning organisers of the protest against any form of violence. Both alleged that the organisers of the protest intended to cause anarchy in Nigeria and that the government would not allow such

Some groups of people, self-appointed crusaders and influencers have been strategising and mobilising potential protesters to unleash terror under the guise of replicating the recent Kenya protest. While the force acknowledges the right to peaceful protest as enshrined in our constitution, we must ensure that this protest does not snowball into violence or disorder, the IGP said.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has also vowed that the protest would not be allowed in Abuja. He claimed that August 1 had been set aside for the recognition of traditional rulers in the six area councils of the FCT.

That is the day FCT has set aside for the entire area councils to jubilate, to give out certificates of recognition for their traditional rulers. We will not allow that day that FCT has set aside to honour their traditional rulers for their people to rejoice, and then somebody will come and disrupt that day. We will not allow it.

“We want people to come out and celebrate as part of the achievement of the current administration. That day is unavailable for those who want to protest, and FCT is unavailable for the protesters,” Wike said.

In a similar attempt to discourage citizens from protesting, the Bauchi State government threatened to resist protests.

The Secretary to the State government, Ibrahim Kashim, said in a press briefing on Thursday that “if they (organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest) insist on protesting, they should do so elsewhere, not in Bauchi State.”

But despite the threats, citizens have vowed not to back out. Several groups, including Afenifere, a Yoruba Socio-political group, have supported the protesters. The Northern Comrades Movement of Nigeria (NCMN) also vowed to join the protest in the North.

Civil Society groups and rights advocates have warned the federal government and security agencies against attacking or arresting protesters, stressing that peaceful protest is a constitutional right.

Read: Just In: FCT Minister Wike Hurriedly Fixes Traditional Celebration on August 1, Says No Protests In Abuja

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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