President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria has urged young people to avoid participating in the nationwide cost-of-living protests scheduled for next week, labeling them as the work of “sinister” individuals exploiting the country’s economic difficulties.
The protest organizers are reportedly inspired by recent events in Kenya, where demonstrators have called for President William Ruto’s resignation after achieving key demands, including the cancellation of planned tax increases and the dismissal of nearly the entire cabinet.
Nigeria’s last major demonstration occurred three years ago, against a notorious police unit accused of extrajudicial killings. The #EndSARS movement succeeded in disbanding the unit but was met with a violent crackdown, resulting in numerous deaths.
As the August 1st protests approach, President Tinubu has urged the organizers to abandon their plans. In a speech delivered by Secretary to the Government George Akume, Tinubu warned that some individuals with “sinister motives” are mobilizing citizens, particularly youths, to protest amid the country’s economic hardship.
He cited the situations in India and Sudan as lessons, stating that Nigeria, with its population of over 200 million, cannot afford such unrest.
Trade union leaders are calling for President Tinubu to engage with the protest organizers rather than dismiss their concerns as “sponsored political dissent.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress emphasized that the dire conditions faced by many Nigerian families, who are forced to eat only one meal a day or scavenge for food, demand serious government intervention.
Tinubu’s camp, however, has accused supporters of the defeated presidential candidate Peter Obi of orchestrating the protests and using social media to promote hashtags like #TinubuMUSTGo and #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria. Presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga has suggested that Obi should be held accountable for any resulting disorder.
The Labour Party, led by Peter Obi, has refuted claims that it is behind the planned protests, dismissing them as a “figment of the author’s imagination” and criticizing the government as “puerile.” The party stated, “Labour Party, Peter Obi, and our supporters are not planning any protests,” but emphasized that citizens have a constitutional right to protest.
Peter Obi, who mobilized young people in southern Nigeria during the 2023 election but finished third, had alleged election rigging in favor of Tinubu. However, his case was dismissed by the court.
Local media also report opposition to the planned protests from a group of small-scale retailers, the Self Reliance for Physically Challenged Traders of Nigeria, who are concerned about the potential for turmoil and violence similar to that experienced during the #EndSARS protests.
In Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni has expressed similar concerns, warning protesters against “playing with fire” and accusing them of undermining his government while he focuses on generating wealth for the country.
On Tuesday, several demonstrators were arrested while attempting to reach parliament to protest against high levels of government corruption.
Meanwhile, in Kenya, police used tear gas on Tuesday to disperse hundreds of protesters in Nairobi who were trying to reach the main airport and disrupt operations.
