Nollywood veteran Chidi Mokeme has expressed his support for the planned August protest by youths, emphasizing that it is a fundamental right of citizens. Mokeme highlighted that President Bola Tinubu, who has himself participated in protests against previous governments, should respect the citizens’ right to protest regarding economic hardship.
On his X handle, Mokeme urged security agencies to ensure the protection of lives and properties during the protest, preventing it from being hijacked by hoodlums.
“Protests are a constitutionally guaranteed right of the people. The president, himself, has exercised this right severally in the past without restraint. The police have a constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties of citizens including legitimate protesters,” Mokeme stated.
He added that if the government has information about potential hijacking of the protest by unscrupulous elements, it is the responsibility of security forces to protect protesters, safeguard properties, identify wrongdoers, and prosecute them accordingly to prevent violence.
Mokeme also criticized some of President Tinubu’s spokespersons for their statements, suggesting that they have inadvertently fueled the protest.
“The kind of statements being made by government spokespersons only aggravate the already tense situation. This is like giving the dog a bad name so you can hang it. Government has to be proactive, not banning cough syrup because some people abuse it,” he added.
News Editor