Nationwide protest: Ezekwesili, Defence Headquarters Warn Against Anarchy

A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has backed the upcoming nationwide protest planned for August 1-10, 2024, urging the federal and state governments to handle the situation with civility and empathy.

She spoke in a statement titled, 'My Position on the Nationwide Protest of our Young Citizens,'  posted on X on Thursday.

She wrote, “All reasonable people know that the majority of our citizens—especially the young ones—are distressed on many counts, from biting economic hardship that is prevalent in the country today. They blame it on bad governance and are therefore demanding an end to it,” she stated.

She criticised the reactions of politicians, public officials, which she described as undemocratic and lacking empathy.

“I hope the Federal Government and its allies can quickly and wisely cease from threatening those among our citizens who wish to exercise their constitutional right of expression, association, and movement through a nationwide protest,” she urged.

The #Bring Back Our Girls Convener called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and state governors to seize the opportunity presented by the protests to engage with the dissatisfied youths.

“I hope that our politicians and public officials will heed counsel and allow themselves the humility of listening and learning from their citizens at a time like this,” she added.

In the same vein, the Defence Headquarters, DHQ, also expressed concern about the potential of violent elements to hijack the planned nationwide protest against hardship.

The DHQ added that intelligence reports showed that the protest is a ploy to replicate what happened in Kenya.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja.

He said the planned protest bears similarities to violent and unresolved events in Kenya.

“There are strong indicators that unscrupulous elements plan to hijack the process, leading to anarchy,” he told journalists.

He said: “Intelligence at the Military’s disposal showed the protest would be hijacked by some unscrupulous elements.

“The aim of the protest is to show you what is happening in Kenya. And I would add that what is happening in Kenya in terms of the protest, one, is violence. Two, it remains unresolved as we speak now.

“And based on what has been gathered, there are plans by some unscrupulous elements to hijack this protest and make sure that it turns violent.

“The constitution is clear on the military’s role and involvement. Citizens have the right to peaceful protest, but not to mobilise for anarchy and unleash terror.”