The Labour Party (LP) has firmly denied allegations from the Presidency that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his supporters are organizing a nationwide anti-government protest scheduled for August 1. The Presidency has branded the planned protests, promoted under hashtags such as #TinubuMustGo and #Revolution2024, as acts of treason.
In a statement posted on Saturday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, accused Obi and his supporters of inciting unrest. Onanuga tweeted, “They are not democrats but anarchists,” and asserted that the hashtags represent calls for high treason and a coup d’état.
In response to these alleged plans, Onanuga announced a counter-rally, Save-Nigeria-Rally, from August 1-15, 2024, aimed at opposing the protests scheduled from August 1-10. He claimed that the organizers of these protests are the same individuals behind the violent #EndSARS protests of October 2020.
“The protest planners are also the same people who were instigated by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to launch the destructive EndSARS protest in Nigeria in October 2020,” Onanuga said. He further alleged that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) hijacked the genuine youth protest against police brutality for their own agenda.
Onanuga accused the protest organizers of impatience, unwilling to wait for the next election in 2027, and instead attempting to destabilize Nigeria. He pointed to anonymous accounts and individuals like Babatunde Gbadamosi and Brother Bernard as key figures in promoting the protests and called for their arrest.
Onanuga also defended the government’s efforts to address economic issues, highlighting measures such as an increased minimum wage, student loans, and various palliatives to mitigate the cost of living crisis. He urged Nigerians to recognize these efforts and reject the protests.
The Labour Party, through its National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, issued a statement refuting the Presidency’s claims. “We say there is no truth in the tweet. It is just the figment of the author’s imagination,” Ifoh said. He emphasized that the Labour Party promotes peaceful conduct and is not associated with any planned protests.
Peter Obi’s campaign spokesman, Yunusa Tanko, also dismissed the allegations, criticizing the government’s attempts to scapegoat Obi. “With all due respect, is it Peter Obi who goes to the market to buy a bag of rice and beans? Why are people not being fair to this man?” Tanko asked, highlighting that the protests reflect widespread discontent with the government, not incitement by Obi.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), through its National Publicity Director, Bala Ibrahim, warned against violent protests and reiterated that while opposition and protests are constitutional rights, they must remain peaceful.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) challenged the Presidency to provide evidence for its claims, asserting that peaceful protests are a legitimate means for citizens to express their grievances.
Civil society organizations also voiced their support for the protests, urging the government to listen to citizens’ concerns. Abiodun Bamigboye of the Joint Action Front stated, “Nigerians have the right to embark on a protest,” while Prince Nze of Human Rights and Justice Group International called for a responsive government.
