Dan Ulasi, the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State, has criticized the Nigerian government for allegedly attempting to demonize protesters to incite terrorism ahead of planned demonstrations against poor governance.
In an interview with Arise News, Ulasi suggested that the government’s efforts to suppress the upcoming protests are part of a strategy to create a chaotic situation. He believes this tactic is designed to deflect from addressing the core issues prompting the protests.
Ulasi stated, “I hope they have not also demonized people because there are indications of what I call ‘stalkerstic terrorism,’ where the government attempts to provoke a group into terrorism. This may be part of the strategy to create disorder, possibly to ensure their own survival. President Tinubu is often underestimated, but he is shrewd and likely has a purpose behind these actions.”
He emphasized that the widespread discontent across Nigeria, expressed through calls for protest, indicates deep-rooted problems that need addressing. Ulasi criticized the government for expending significant energy on preventing protests rather than addressing the root causes of the grievances.
He further suggested that if the government invested a fraction of the effort spent on suppressing protests into solving the problems, such as supporting farmers and addressing food insecurity, it could alleviate some of the issues driving public unrest.
“This is the first serious instance where Nigerians are openly discussing hunger. The focus should be on resolving these critical issues rather than stifling dissent,” Ulasi added.
News Editor