Barely few hours to the planned nationwide “End bad governance in Nigeria” protest, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) United State of America (USA) has endorsed and expressed their support to the planned peaceful movement to hold Thursday, August 1.
Noting that peaceful protest is constitutional, provided it adheres to non-violence principles, the coalition said any attempt to intimidate the participants through force would constitute severe affront to democratic principles.
Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday, on the development, President and Chief Executive Officer of NADECO USA, Dr Lloyd Ukwu said that instead of suppressing the planned protest by aggrieved Nigerians, the government should concentrate on the reason for the movement.
Dr Ukwu said Nigerians are perplexed by the current administration’s persistent pleads for more time, stressing that “More time for what. To acquire more private jets or renovate more residences? He said that “It is disingenuous for the government to criminalise protests by targeting it’s organisers”.
The NADECO USA president recalled that President Bola Tinubu and others who are trying to stop the protest had one time or the other participated in such movement to express their plight.
“NADECO wishes to remind Mr Tinubu and the Nigerian people that Tinubu himself is a product of incessant and numerous protests beginning with Chief MKO Abiola’s June 12, 1993, annulled elections”.
He listed recent examples where President Tinubu participated or encouraged protests to further his political career to include “Tinubu calls out President Jonathan on Nigeria’s security – April 14, 2014”, “APC leaders and supporters display President Jonathan’s mock coffin in Ibadan – June 20, 2014”, “Chibok girls: NLC, TUC, Tinubu, APC women lead protest – May 14, 2014”.
Others include: “Jonathan is worse than Nebuchadnezzar – Soyinka”, “Insecurity: Resign – Tinubu tells Jonathan – November 6, 2014”, “Tinubu blast Jonathan: You are Incompetent to rule – August 6, 2014”, “My heart bleeds for our people and the country over the deaths in Yanyan, Abuja. A government unable to protect its citizens deserves to be queried – Tinubu – April 14, 2014”.
Ukwu continued that in 2024, prominent figures like “President Tinubu, Pastor Barare, Pastor Adeboye, and Prof Soyinka, etc exercised their right to dissent, including symbolic acts that criticised the government “.
The coalition considered it as an irony of circumstance for some prominent individuals to attempt to allegedly intimidate Nigerians who are desirous of defending their right to good governance.
According to Ukwu, throughout history, protests have ignited positive and powerful social and political movements that expose injustice, corruption, and bad governance in the system, adding that the goal of protests is to demand change and not to antagonise the government.
Regretting that Nigerian leaders have deployed tribalism, ethnicity and religion to divide the people and suppress their demand, Ukwu said “NADECO USA stands resolute for democracy, accountability, the rule of law, and good governance”.
He however, called on the “International Community to monitor this planned peaceful protest closely, ensuring the safety of every Nigerian participants”.
The coalition further expressed their support in Nigerian youths and all those who cherish democratic governance.
To the security operatives, the group said “According to 83(A) of the Police Act, the protesters have the right to be protected during demonstration. Remember that protesters are fellow citizens advocating for democracy and good governance, the rule of law, accountability, security, and many more which benefit all Nigerians, including you and your families “.
Blessing Ibunge
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