Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has voiced support for the upcoming August 1 protest against economic hardship, urging demonstrators to act within the bounds of the law.
Obi made the remarks on Sunday following a meeting with Governor Alex Otti of Abia State. In his statement, Obi stressed the constitutional right to protest, urging protesters to conduct their demonstrations in a civil manner.
“Within the Nigerian constitution, protest is allowed. All I plead for is that those who are protesting do so within the law and in a civil manner that allows us as a nation to show that we live within the law,” Obi said.
Acknowledging the challenging conditions faced by many Nigerians, Obi attributed the unrest to widespread hunger and hopelessness among the youth. “Everybody knows that things are difficult. When they talk about sponsors of the protest, I always say the sponsors are very simple. It’s hunger and hopelessness among the youth, so we all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through,” he stated.
The former governor also called on security agencies to handle the situation responsibly. “What I will say to the security agencies is that they should ensure they manage the situation again within the law. We should not strive to be over-bearing. It should be something that we will do within the law. There is nothing wrong. Protest is allowed globally,” Obi emphasized.
Highlighting that protest is a fundamental aspect of democratic governance, Obi drew from his own experience as a governor. “People also 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. There is nothing wrong with that. I was governor for years and people protested.”
As the protest date approaches, Obi’s support adds to the growing list of voices calling for a lawful and peaceful demonstration, while addressing the underlying causes of the unrest.
