Political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, on Friday, expressed concern over the state’s anxiety regarding the planned protest scheduled to start on August 1.

He labelled the panic by state officials as troubling, emphasizing that such protests are a normal part of democratic engagement.

Utomi, speaking at the launch of ‘The New Tribe,’ pointed out that during military regimes, protests were a regular occurrence.

He said: “For us to now get all wound up that some unknown people are planning a protest shows that something has gone fundamentally wrong with the nature of the connection between the state and society.”

Utomi highlighted the current state of the nation as dire, citing that the fear of an impending protest has led to unnecessary panic, threats, and misinformation.

He criticized the state’s reaction as a sign of deeper issues within the nation’s governance and societal values.

In his speech, he said: “The state of the motherland is certainly worrisome, so worrisome that notice by some not known people about impending protests have set off panic, threats, bullying and scapegoating resulting in prefabricated falsehoods by agents of the state.

“MAN and the chambers of Commerce are up in arms with the direction of interest rates as monetary authorities struggle to contain inflation with high interest rates and insecurity continues.

“In this season of the unmasking of yesterday’s pretenders and the shrinking of the club of truthsayers and those who truly believe in a just society it is not difficult to tell that the state of the motherland is of grave ill health.

“Surely values shape human progress and values seem to have taken flight from our current landscape and citizens have an obligation to seek restoration.”