By Milcah Tanimu
The Presidency has called on organizers of the upcoming August protest to respect Nigerians who choose not to participate. Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, emphasized that the right to protest will be upheld, alongside the rights of those opting out.
Ogra made these remarks on Monday via his X handle, underscoring President Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the nation’s economic challenges, which he attributed partly to global crises.
“It is every Nigerian’s constitutional right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” Ogra stated. “The Nigerian state also has a constitutional obligation to guarantee every constitutional right of every Nigerian, including free movement, safety, and security.”
He stressed that while protests are a constitutional right, respect must be given to those who do not wish to join. “If you claim you want to have a peaceful demonstration yet have allowed some actively involved in your protest to use your platform to mobilize people publicly in the name of causing destruction and chaos, you are also responsible for whatever chaos they cause,” he warned.
Ogra questioned the protest leaders’ control over their participants and urged protestors to be fully aware of the intentions of those mobilizing them. He also criticized any failure to condemn calls for violence or destruction, suggesting it could imply consent to such actions.
President Tinubu’s administration, Ogra noted, has been proactive in tackling the economic hardships facing Nigerians. He highlighted that the current difficulties are due to both global economic shocks and necessary local policies aimed at securing Nigeria’s future prosperity.
“President Bola Tinubu listens and has shown unprecedented willingness to revisit and revise unpopular policies,” he said.
Ogra pointed to positive trends in inflation and security as evidence of the administration’s effective measures. He cited initiatives such as the student loans scheme and the P-CNG Initiative, which are easing financial pressures on families and reducing transportation costs.
“In addition, we have reduced incidents of internal insurrection and kidnappings, freeing over 5,000 Nigerians and neutralizing or capturing over 11,000 terrorists and insurgents,” he added.
Ogra reiterated President Tinubu’s focus on stabilizing the economy and ensuring a secure future for Nigeria. “President Bola Tinubu is resolute, focused on his job, and won’t be swayed,” he concluded.
