Former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili has advised the Nigerian government to stop threatening citizens who wish to exercise their constitutional right of expression, association and movement through a nationwide protest.
Ezekwesili demanded that the government should ensure protesters are protected and supported by the security agencies.
According to her, the leadership members of the National Assembly as well as governors across the country must not waste the golden opportunity the planned protests are offering them as holders of public positions.
Some Nigerians are mobilising for nationwide protest slated for August 1 to August 10, 2024.
Tagged #EndBadGovernace, organisers of the protest have lamented about widespread hunger and inflation in the country.
The ex-minister made her position known in a post on her X handle on Thursday.
Ezekwesili said leaders in political positions should use the opportunity of the planned protests to engage dissatisfied and disaffected young citizens with utmost civility.
The post titled, ‘My Position on the Nationwide Protest of our Young Citizens’, reads, “All reasonable people know that majority of our citizens- especially the young ones- are distressed on many counts, from biting economic hardship that is prevalent in the country today. They blame it on Bad Governance and are therefore demanding an end to it.
“What is there to contest on a clearly established matter like this?
“Unfortunately, the language and actions of politicians, public officials and their allies to the distress of citizens are far from democratic and empathetic.
“News in the media suggest that our young citizens are planning to protest nationwide. And as we all read the reactions on social and other media, it does appear that the planned protests already agitate the federal and state governments.
“I hope the @NigeriaGov and its allies can quickly and wisely cease from threatening those among our Citizens who wish to exercise their constitutional right of expression, association and movement through a nationwide protest.
“I urge the @NGRPresident @NGRSenate @HouseNGR leadership and members as well as Governors across the country to not waste the golden opportunity that the planned protests are offering them as holders of public positions.
“Use this opportunity of the planned protests to engage your dissatisfied and disaffected young citizens with utmost civility.
“Here are at least 2 wise actions that @NigeriaGov and Governors can take:
“1. Ensure that the protesters are protected and supported by the @PoliceNG and related agencies like the Civil Defense Corp to protest peacefully and orderly in presenting their demands and agitations to the authorities. Be guided by the terrible lessons of the mishandling of #EndSARSProtests.
“2. Respond to the protesters with a convincing pathway and plan to achieve Good Governance on each specific issue they are protesting against or for at this time.
“I hope that our politicians and public officials will heed counsel and allow themselves the humility of listening and learning from their citizens at a time like this.
“I wish the protesters a well-organized, orderly and peaceful protest.”
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