Sponsors of protest are hunger, hopelessness amongst youths – Peter Obi backs nationwide protest
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate for 2023, has voiced his support for the nationwide protest scheduled for August 1.
Speaking with journalists after a courtesy visit to Abia state governor Alex Otti on Sunday, July 28, Obi emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution permits protests as a citizen’s right.
However, he cautioned against violence, stressing that demonstrations should remain lawful. Obi pointed to hunger and hopelessness among the youth as driving forces behind the protest, urging Nigerian authorities to engage with and listen 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”
“We all have to listen to what Nigerians are going through and I thank our governor (Alex Otti) for doing so. It is important.”
“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.
