Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has alleged that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, and his supporters are orchestrating a planned nationwide protest.
Onanuga claims that these organizers are the same individuals who hijacked the #EndSARS protest in 2020, and he believes that they are using the protest to destabilize the country due to their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.
According to Onanuga, the planned protest is slated for August 1, and it has gained traction through viral hashtags and promotional flyers circulating on social media.
He asserts that Obi and his supporters should be held responsible for any resulting crisis or anarchy. Onanuga further alleges that the protest planners are also connected to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who allegedly influenced the #EndSARS protests for their own agenda.
Onanuga recounts that the #EndSARS movement began as a legitimate protest by youths against police brutality, specifically targeting the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) known for its high-handedness.
However, he claims that IPOB members infiltrated and hijacked the movement, causing widespread destruction, particularly in Lagos, which still bears the scars of the unrest.
He argues that after the #EndSARS protests, IPOB members and other dissidents joined forces with the Labour Party to support Peter Obi in the 2022 elections.
These individuals are now allegedly behind the spread of hashtags such as ‘EndBadGovernance’, ‘Tinubu Must Go,’ and ‘Revolution2024,’ which Onanuga interprets as calls for treason and a civilian coup against President Tinubu.
Onanuga emphasizes that these protest planners are not democrats but anarchists, attempting to destabilize Nigeria rather than waiting for the next election cycle in 2027.
He warns that their actions could be interpreted as high treason, as they are effectively calling for the overthrow of an elected government.
In his statement, Onanuga also highlights the measures the federal government has taken to address economic hardships, including increasing the minimum wage, disbursing student loans, and rolling out various palliative measures.
He asserts that President Tinubu has a four-year mandate to implement his agenda and advises those calling for protests to wait until the 2027 election to either re-elect Tinubu or choose a new leader.
Onanuga concludes by revealing that he has been monitoring one of the protest planners, who remains unnamed but is allegedly associated with an internet radio station, PTM100.88 Abuja.
He calls for patience and adherence to democratic processes, rather than resorting to protests and potential unrest.
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