- Governor Hope Uzodimma advised against protests against Tinubu’s administration, stating it is too early and lacks clear objectives
- Uzodimma emphasized concerns about the potential hijacking of protests, referencing the #EndSARS movement, and urged caution in the fragile political environment
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has advised those planning to protest against President Bola Tinubu’s administration to reconsider, stating that it is too early for such actions.
Addressing State House Reporters after presenting former Senate President Pius Anyim on Wednesday, Uzodimma expressed the South East Governors’ opposition to the protest, citing concerns about potential hijacking.
“Democracy is about the people’s opinion, and protest is allowed in a democratic setting. Every protest must be reasonably conceived to make political sense. I think it’s too early at this time in the life of this government for anybody to say they want to protest,” Uzodimma said.
He emphasized the lack of clear reasons for the protests and highlighted the fragile political environment in the country. “First of all, there has not been any engagement where those sponsoring the protest could tell us the reasons for the protests. Secondly, given the global situation today and the insecurity in the country, we have a very fragile political environment that, if not managed and protected very well, may collapse the entire country.”
Uzodimma warned that protests could be hijacked, referencing the #EndSARS movement. “The implication of doing that, if care is not taken, is that it may be hijacked, like the #EndSARS experience where criminals now hijacked an innocently conceived agitation by young Nigerians. So this is another kind of temptation? I think those behind the protests have not been able to come out openly to say they’re behind it, there is a motive yet to be unraveled?”
He insisted on the need for clear objectives behind any protest. “What do you want the government to do? Because the reason for protests is that they want an issue to be addressed. What are the issues?”
In conclusion, Uzodimma urged against overheating the political environment and worsening the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. “There is no need to overheat the polity, overheat our environment and put our people in a position where the hardship that is occasioned by economic recession worldwide is further worsened. So I advise against the protests.”