A chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to focus on its responsibilities and not be distracted by the notion of a statewide protest. “No one is planning any protest,” he declared.
In a statement released on Friday, Olayinka, a PDP House of Representatives candidate in last year’s general elections, emphasized that protests are not orchestrated with advance notice. “Protests are not planned and held by giving one month’s notice,” he said. “It is either the government is distracting itself over nothing or using the noise about the protest to divert Nigerians’ attention.”
Olayinka praised peaceful protest as a fundamental right of all Nigerians and pointed out that President Bola Tinubu, who rose to power through political protests, would not restrict this right. “Protests are spontaneous reactions to issues, not planned months in advance,” he noted, citing the recent protests in Kenya that erupted immediately after a controversial tax bill was passed.
He urged the government and its agencies to stop promoting the idea of an imaginary protest. “How many Nigerians were aware of any protest before the government started speaking about it?” Olayinka questioned.
He suggested that the government appears to be promoting a non-existent protest. While acknowledging the government’s responsibility for the country’s state, especially the struggling economy, he stressed the need for collective effort to rescue the nation.
Olayinka also criticized the transformation of demonstrations into moneymaking schemes. “After August 2, the government will stop troubling itself with a fictional protest. Those cashing in on a protest that no one is planning will have made enough money and will allow Nigerians to have peace,” he said.
He expressed frustration that security services, often ineffective against terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, were now highly active, issuing frequent press statements. “All of the commotion from security services is simply aimed at being ‘mobilized’,” he said, questioning the deployment of nearly 4,000 police officers in Abuja alone.
Olayinka urged the government to engage with the people and lead by example, rather than issuing warnings and condemning opposition forces. He acknowledged that Nigeria’s issues are too numerous to be quickly resolved by any government but stressed that public faith would increase if the people saw those in power making sacrifices.
“While the public’s right to protest is essential to keep the government in check, it is crucial to act within the law to avoid counterproductive outcomes,” he concluded.
