Ayodele Olalere
President Bola Tinubu has admitted he organised protests against past governments but not noted that the protests he took part in were peaceful and not a violent one.
Tinubu’s admission was as a result of backlash he has received from organisers of the August 1 nationwide hunger protest against his administration for making attempts to stop the protest.
It is recalled that in 2012, President Tinubu who was then the leader of the opposition party led and organised a One million man march protest against the government of President Goodluck Jonathan after the then president announced partial removal of fuel subsidy.
The protest grounded business activities in the country which forced Jonathan to reverse his decision.
However, in his remarks while receiving the Letter of Credence from the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills Jr., at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, President Tinubu noted that protests are an essential component of a democratic society but stressed that no government will tolerate demonstrations that result in the destruction of lives and property.
“During the military era, we made our voices heard against dictatorship, and I was part of the group that engaged in peaceful protests without resorting to the destruction of property. We have worked hard to ensure 25 years of unbroken democracy, and I will continue to maintain this democracy.”
He admitted Nigerians have the right to protest but warned that “we will never encourage any protests that lead to the destruction of lives and property.”
