Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) has debunked the insinuation making the rounds that the party is the brain behind proposed national protest.
In a statement it issued over the weekend and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifo, the party reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law while responding to comments attributed to the Media Aide of President Bola Ahmed, Mr Bayo Onanuga, who in a tweet on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) alleged the involvement of LP in the proposed nationwide protest against the Bola Tinubu administration.
The party debunked the allegation linking the Labour Party, its national leader, Peter Obi, and many notable figures in the party to the proposed #EndBadGovernance protest.
The LP statement read thus: “We say that there is no truth in that and the tweet is just a figment of the author’s imagination.
“Labour Party is known for being a very peaceful party and it has at several occasions asked its followers to follow peace at all times.
“We are not known as a lawless group as was evident in the aftermath of the last general election. It is therefore delusional for anyone to link our supporters to the planned protest. Labour Party, Peter Obi and our supporters are not planning any protests.
“However, peaceful protests all over the world are initiated and executed by the people and not by the opposition. No opposition has any control over protests. Popular protests such as in Kenya, Egypt and several other places were a direct registration of the people’s frustration against the government. The opposition have the right to protest and it is within their constitutional right.
“It is therefore puerile for the government or anyone for that matter to begin to look for who to blame for the bad governance that is being witnessed in Nigeria today.
“Nigeria can still get it right if the right policies are initiated. We also advise that some aides of the Presidency must be cautioned to avoid incendiary pronouncements capable of combusting the nation, all in the name of playing politics.”