Lawmaker Warns of Disaster Ahead of Nationwide Protest in Nigeria

A planned nationwide protest in Nigeria, scheduled to take place from August 1 to August 10, has been described as a recipe for disaster by Olamijuwonlo Alao-Akala, the lawmaker representing the Ogbomoso North/Ogbomoso South/Oriire federal constituency. The protest, dubbed “EndBadGovernance,” aims to address the rising cost of living and poverty in the country, but the lawmaker has expressed concerns about the faceless nature of the protest and its potential to be hijacked by hoodlums.

During an appearance on Channels Television’s “Hard Copy” on Friday, Alao-Akala acknowledged that people are indeed hungry and expressed his willingness to participate in the protest. However, he questioned the agenda and motive behind the demonstration, arguing that the term “bad governance” is too vague and could be exploited by non-state actors to commit crimes.

“I welcome protest and even want to join them in the protest,” Alao-Akala said. “Are people not hungry? People are really hungry, but what are we protesting for? Is it bad governance? Bad governance is too vague. A lot of scrupulous elements could use that as an avenue to loot and do bad things, and we don’t want that.”

The lawmaker’s comments have sparked concerns about the potential risks and consequences of the protest, which has already led to a series of meetings between President Bola Tinubu, state governors, security agencies, and traditional rulers to discuss its cancellation. The situation remains uncertain, but Alao-Akala’s warning serves as a stark reminder of the importance of responsible and peaceful protest in achieving meaningful change.