A chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the government to address its responsibilities directly and stop fixating on an imaginary nationwide protest, stating, “No one is planning any protest.”
Olayinka, a PDP House of Representatives candidate from last year’s general elections, remarked in a statement on Friday that “protests are not organized through a month-long notice,” adding that “either the government is distracting itself for no reason, or the noise surrounding the protest is being used to divert attention from pressing issues facing Nigerians.”
He characterized the right to peaceful protest as a fundamental freedom of all Nigerians, emphasizing that “President Bola Tinubu, who himself emerged from political protests, will not prevent Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right to voice their grievances through peaceful demonstration.”
Olayinka stated, “Protests are spontaneous reactions to issues, not events that are planned months in advance. The protest in Kenya was a spontaneous response to the passage of a bill imposing additional taxes on the people. It did not emerge months after the bill was passed; it began immediately.”
“Therefore, the government and its agencies should cease promoting and publicizing an imaginary protest that, to my knowledge, no one is planning. How many Nigerians were even aware of a protest before the government began making announcements about it?”
“It appears that the government is promoting a non-existent or imaginary protest. Yes, the government must take responsibility for the state of the nation, particularly our ailing economy, but all Nigerians share accountability, and we must work together to rescue our country.”
While lamenting that the talk of protest has become a means of profit-making, Olayinka remarked, “After August 2, the government will likely stop concerning itself with an imaginary protest.”
“By then, those exploiting a protest that no one is planning will have profited enough and will allow Nigerians to have some peace.”
He expressed incredulity that security agencies, which have failed to protect Nigerians from terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, are now vigorously issuing press statements.
“All the noise from security agencies seems primarily aimed at mobilization. They know there won’t be any protest. Aren’t we now being told that over 4,000 police officers will be deployed in Abuja alone?”
Olayinka urged the government to engage more effectively with the people and lead by example, rather than issuing warnings and blaming opposition forces.
He concluded, “The truth is that Nigeria’s problems are numerous and overwhelming, and no government can solve them overnight. However, the public will have more trust in the government when they see that those in power are also making sacrifices.”
“While the public’s right to protest serves as a tool to hold the government accountable, it is crucial to remember that it will be more effective if we operate within the bounds of the law; otherwise, it could prove counterproductive and set us back further.”
