National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, has asserted that the government is not inducing people to withdraw from the planned protest and criticised those induced by government to withdraw lack human agency.
During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Morka said, “When you read the constitution, you don’t see the tension that says everyone has the right to assemble freely and conduct legitimate activities.” He addressed the misconception that the government opposes protests, stating, “In the history of protest, I listen to analysts say that the president himself was a protester and led protests, which is true.”
Morka noted the absence of a unified group stepping forward to represent Nigerians’ dissatisfaction: “No group of persons have stepped forward to say we, on behalf of Nigerians or any group of people, feel so dissatisfied that we feel we have to evoke our constitutional liberty to actually go out there to say to government that we require your attention. Nobody has done that, and it is concerning.”
Acknowledging the country’s ongoing challenges, Morka remarked, “No one has been more humble than the president in accepting that some of the corrective policies of this administration may have heightened or increased this difficulty. He did not create it, but he may have taken it a bit higher.” He emphasised that the president cannot simply eradicate hunger and poverty in Nigeria and that the administration is working hard to address the situation.
Refuting Adeyanju’s allegations, Morka stated, “The government is not inducing people to pull out of the planned protest. David Adeyanju is saying that the people being induced by government against the protest lack human agency. He is taking his own decision, so why will he second guess anyone who is taking a contrary view?”
Morka supported those advising against protests at this time, explaining that the president has only been in office for about a year and should be given more time to address the nation’s issues.
NNEOMA UDENSI
Follow us on:
