Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state has voiced strong concerns about the planned nationwide protest, warning of its potential to destabilise the already fragile political landscape.
News About Nigeria reports that the governor also expressed his reservations with journalists after meeting with President Bola Tinubu, highlighting the sensitive nature of Nigeria’s current political climate.
As the leader of the South East Governors’ Forum and Progressive Governors’ Forum, Uzodinma sounded a note of warning about the potential dangers of the planned protests.
He emphasised the need for careful management to avoid a repeat of past mistakes.
Uzodinma’s warning was informed by the experiences of 2020, when a peaceful protest movement was hijacked by violent elements, leading to widespread chaos and destruction.
He urged those involved in the planning of the current protests to learn from this example and take steps to prevent a similar escalation.
Uzodinma urged citizens to recall the lessons from that experience and be cautious of creating opportunities for similar incidents.
He also questioned the motives and organisation behind the planned protests, emphasising that democracy allows for protests, but they must be reasonably conceived and make political sense.
He noted that the timing is inappropriate, given the global situation and insecurity in the country, and that the protests’ goals and reasons are unclear.
The governor warned that the protests could be hijacked by criminal elements, like the EndSARS experience, and advised against them, citing the potential to worsen economic hardship and insecurity.
He emphasised the need to protect the country’s fragile political environment and avoid overheating the polity.
Uzodinma concluded that his administration would not support protests without clear goals or programmes and urged citizens to be wary of creating opportunities for chaos.
