AGS NEWS – Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to heed the demands of organizers ahead of the planned nationwide protest on August 1, 2024.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Falana, a human rights activist, warned the government against threatening protesters, stating that such actions could worsen the situation.

Falana emphasized the need for the government to engage with the protest organizers productively, rather than issuing threats which could inadvertently popularize the protests.

He also urged state governors to communicate their plans to alleviate the country’s hardships to their residents.

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Falana said, “The government should identify the leaders of the movement, engage them, and address their demands.

There’s still time before August 1, and the government plans to address the nation. Governors should also inform the public about their efforts to mitigate the ongoing hardships.”

Over the past week, the calls for a nationwide hunger protest have been gaining traction on social media.

In response, President Bola Tinubu, through Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris, appealed to Nigerians to shelve the planned protests and give the administration time to respond to their requests.

“Mr. President does not see any need for the protest and has asked them to await the government’s response to their pleas,” Idris stated after a closed-door meeting with the president.

However, there have been calls from various quarters urging the FG to allow the protests.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar criticized the government, stating that Nigerians, including supporters of Tinubu and the ruling APC, are suffering from hunger and hopelessness due to government incompetence.

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Amnesty International also advocated for the right to protest, condemning threats against peaceful protesters as unlawful and a violation of the freedom of assembly guaranteed by both international law and Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution.

They stated, “Nigerians must not be denied the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to peaceful protest through veiled threats of violence and false insinuations.”