President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians, particularly the youth planning a national protest over the high cost of living, to cancel the demonstration, assuring them that their concerns are being addressed. The plea was conveyed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, after a meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Idris stated that the President is aware of the grievances and is committed to finding solutions. “Mr. President said he listens to them and takes what they say seriously and he is working assiduously to ensure that this country is good not just for today, but also for the future,” he said. Tinubu emphasized that there is no need for the planned protest and urged citizens to await the government’s response.
In a related development, tensions have escalated between the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayou Onanuga, and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi. Obi’s lawyers have demanded N5 billion in damages and an apology from Onanuga for accusing him and his supporters of high treason in connection with the planned “EndBadGovernance protest.”
Former presidential aspirant and Labour Party chieftain, Professor Pat Utomi, has also challenged Onanuga to provide evidence of his involvement in the protest or face a N500 billion lawsuit.
Obi’s lawyers, in a letter, stated that Onanuga’s allegations have maligned Obi’s reputation and caused significant emotional distress. They demanded a retraction and apology within 72 hours. Onanuga’s post on social media had accused Obi’s supporters of planning mayhem in Nigeria and linked them to the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which he claimed were hijacked by elements seeking to destabilize the country.
Professor Utomi has warned that if Onanuga fails to provide evidence, he will pursue legal action for defamation and libel, both in Nigerian and international courts.
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the South-East Revival Group (SERG) have condemned Onanuga’s allegations, describing them as reckless and potentially inciting unrest. They called on the Federal Government to focus on addressing the issues of hunger and deprivation affecting Nigerians rather than politicizing the situation.
