A former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, has thrown his weight behind the upcoming nationwide protest.
Mr Secondus, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, recalled how President Bola Tinubu participated in several protests while in opposition.
“President Tinubu, while in opposition, was a notable arrowhead leading protests against the government,” he said.
He wondered why the president is now suppressing youths who want to engage in their civic duty.
“The state of anomie where we find ourselves today as a country incrementally worsened because the citizens failed in their duty to hold governments at all levels accountable,” he said.
The former PDP leader described the planned protest as a non-partisan, pan-Nigerian and altruistic engagement of the citizens aimed at addressing the malaise in the country.
He said: “This protest should not be discouraged. Protests remain the most potent democratic platform through which the consciousness of nations can be aroused and indeed the consciousness of the leadership elite can be nudged and compelled to act right in the interest of citizens.”
According to the statement, Mr Secondus urged protesters to remain organised and peaceful, while calling on the government and security agencies to provide the necessary security environment to ensure peace and order by international law and the Nigerian Constitution.
“This is not the time to sweep issues under the carpet; it is the time to speak truth to power and awaken our collective conscience so that we can work together to build a better society,” the statement added.
