The Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate for 2023, Peter Obi, has expressed his support for the nationwide protest scheduled for August 1.
While speaking with newsmen after a courtesy visit to Abia state governor, Alex Otti, on Sunday, July 28, Obi said the Nigerian Constitution allows room for protests as it is the right of citizens.
He, however, warned against violence, saying such demonstrations should be done within the confines of the law.
Obi identified hunger, and hopelessness among the youths as the sponsors of the protest, calling on the Nigerian authorities to engage and give a listing listening ear to the protesters.
“In Nigerian Constitution, protest is allowed. All I plea for those who are protesting is to do so within the law and in a civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live within the law. Everybody knows that things are difficult.
I always say when they talk about the sponsors of the protest, I say the sponsors are very simple. Hunger, hopelessness amongst the youths so we all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through”
Acknowledging that things are difficult in the country, he said: “We all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through and I thank our governor (Alex Otti) for doing so. It is important.”
The LP chief argued that people do protest in his house, but did not identify who the people are to specify the manner of protest. He called on security agencies to provide cover for the protesters, urging them to operate within the ambit of the law.
“What I will say to security agencies is that they manage the situation again within the law. We should not strive to be overbearing. There is nothing wrong (with protesting). Protest is allowed everywhere globally. I also say (that) people protest in my house. It is for us to listen to those who are protesting. Why are they protesting? Engage them, that is what governance is all about. You talk with them, there is nothing wrong in that,” he added.