The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has told President Bola Tinubu to address Nigerians over the protests by citizens against bad governance and harsh economic conditions.

Obi, in a statement on Friday by his spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko, said Tinubu is the one people elected, not his aides, so he should be the one to address Nigerians at such a critical time.

He said the President’s address would douse the tension in the country generated by the protest.

The former Governor was quoted to have made the call from his home in Onitsha, Anambra State.

“My appeal is for the President to come out and address the nation, he is the one the people elected, holding their mandate, and he should not be using aides or appointees to reach the people at such critical times,” Obi said.

Obi also denied reports of him being in Abuja to support the protesters, noting that he can’t be in two places at a time.

“I am here in Onitsha; I can’t be here and be in Abuja,” Obi said.

The former LP candidate also called on the protesters to avoid violence and ensure their demands are pursued within the limits of the law.

For those who died in the course of the protest, Obi extended his condolences to the families. He also expressed sympathy to those who got injured and those who lost their property in the protest.

CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe, LP, FCT has dismissed the allegation that she sponsored protest in Abuja. 

Yesterday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Nyesom Wike, said that security agencies in the territory have identified a senator as one of those sponsoring the anti-government protest. 

Wike disclosed this shortly after an emergency FCT security Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

The unnamed Senator was said to be supplying the protesters incentives such as food and water.

However, Senator Kingibe has said that the video being misrepresented was recorded six weeks ago during the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) protests at the National headquarters of the LP in Abuja.

In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Kennedy Mbele, Senator Kingibe said, “I am shocked and outraged by the blatant lies and misinformation being spread by mischief-makers! The video being circulated is from over six weeks ago, during a Labour Party NWC meeting, when the NLC was protesting outside the Labour Party office.

“As stakeholders, including Senators, House of Reps members, and Mr. Peter Obi, we went out to engage with the protesters and address their concerns. Now, these deceitful individuals are trying to pass off this old footage as current, claiming that Mr.@PeterObi and I are leading protests in Abuja yesterday.

“This is a malicious and desperate attempt to discredit us. Let me set the record straight: Mr. Peter Obi is not in Abuja, and I haven’t left my house since Wednesday due to illness, much less distributed food and water at the protest grounds, though that would be noble for whoever did.

 “I condemn this orchestrated attempt to spread falsehoods and cause confusion, using it as the basis to claim I sponsored the Abuja protest. It is a shameless and irresponsible act that will not be tolerated. We will not stand idly by while our names and reputations are dragged through the mud by these unscrupulous individuals”

“Recall that Mr. Peter Obi had in a statement explained that he was in his State, Anambra yesterday and as such, cannot be in Abuja and Anambra State simultaneously.

We therefore urge the general public to ignore the malicious video as our amiable Senator has made her position on the #endbadgovernance protest clear, in her most recent interview with Channels Television.”

Senator Shehu Sani who represented the Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Assembly, has urged protesters to discontinue the nationwide protest to save lives and properties of citizens. 

Reacting to what he described as unfortunate development , Senator Sani, in a tweet on X said the situation where hoodlums have hijacked the protest was unacceptable. 

He expressed disappointment over the manner hoodlums hijacked the protest and destroyed properties of innocent citizens in Kaduna; Kano and other parts of the country on day-one of the protest, and advised those willing to encourage continuation of the protest, especially in the North to reconsider their stand based on the potential danger ahead.

“With scores dead,hundreds injured and properties worth billions of Naira belonging to private businesses and government destroyed by hoodlums,mostly in Northern states,those wishing to encourage the continuation of this protest,especially in the North should reconsider.At our end its violent protest without visible leadership and must be discontinued.”

He said the protest is a constitutional right of Nigerians, but should be peaceful and without any threat to life and property and commended the proactiveness of the security agencies in the state for their quick intervention.

Senator  Shehu Sani pointed out curious patterns in protest participation, raising questions about the motivations and historical consistencies of different regions , with his comments sparking  discussions about the complex interplay of regional politics, economic concerns and public demonstrations in Nigeria.

Speaking further about the current situation,he noted the apparent absence of protests in the South East, despite what he perceived  as support for the cause among many South Easterners. “This observation highlights the complex political landscape of the region and raises questions about the factors influencing public demonstrations there.”

However,Senator Sani commended Governor  Uba Sani for” the proactive measures taken so far to calm raging nerves in the state, adding that dialogue and consultation are two instrument that have always helped in any crisis situation.”

The leaders of the nationwide protest against bad governance held in Katsina State, have been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to Vanguard, Kabir Shehu Yandaki and Habibu Ruma, the two leaders of the “Struggle for Good Governance” protest, were invited to the DSS office in Katsina and subsequently detained.

Similarly, Mujittapha Usman, who reportedly led the protest in Malumfashi Local Government Area was also arrested by the security forces.

Some friends of the detainees who disclosed the development to the local media said the DSS contacted the duo by phone earlier in the morning.

They requested their presence at their office to answer questions about the previous day’s protest.

However, upon arriving at the Katsina DSS headquarters, they were detained and are yet to be released as of the time of filing this report, the source stated.

The initial peaceful protest was disrupted when a disorderly mob, including many minors, converged on streets in the state capital, wielding sticks and leaves.

They chanted “Bamuyi Bamuyi” as they go about destroying public facilities.

Primarily, the protesters burnt down one NSCDC patrol vehicle in the state capital and razed down the ruling All Progressives Congress office in Dutsinma LGA.

Consequently, the Katsina State Government, Friday morning, imposed a 24-hour curfew on Dutsinma Local Government Area and a 7pm to 7am curfew on the remaining 34 LGAs of the state.

The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has appealed to protesters across the country to be patient with the government of President Bola Tinubu.

The Governor said the leaders of the country have heard the grievances of the protesters, and a lot more would be done to strengthen the economy and relieve the citizens.

Naija News reports Governor Abdulrazaq stated this on Friday shortly after observing the Jum’ah prayer in GRA, Ilorin, the state capital, according to a statement by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.

While appreciating the people of Kwara State for remaining calm, the Kwara State Governor assured that President Tinubu is working to deliver more interventions to the citizens of the country.

“We have heard you, and a lot more will be done to strengthen the economy and ensure the welfare of the people. I urge all of you to please be patient with the President,” he said.

“The government appreciates the position of the people of Kwara State on this development. As a government, we have listened, and we have heard you clearly. The President is working on multiple interventions and palliatives to ease the burden.

“I appeal that we give the President more time and things will be resolved. I am glad that the people of Kwara state have decided to do just that. We continue to engage stakeholders and religious bodies, and they graciously understand, and they are patient. I can assure them that the President is working and very soon things will improve for good.

“Things like the student loan and all sorts of programmes are already going on. The Credicorp facility is also ongoing, among others. I just urge patience and patience. To those who are angry: Yes, we feel your anger, but the most important thing is to say that this is a listening government. We’ve heard (you) and the right thing will be done,” he added.

Ovation publisher, Dele Momodu, has hit out at conspiracy theories over the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests around Nigeria.

In a tweet on Friday, Momodu insisted that “nobody instigated anyone or anything.”

The media guru also absolved the Igbo of any blame during his conversation with a ‘Tinubu apologist.’

Momodu wrote: “This unfortunate conspiracy theory was forwarded to me this morning by a Tinubu apologist. Here’s my response: It is all a cheap blackmail. The people are hungry while government is living large.

“The Igbo are largely traders. They look after their own globally. Nobody instigated anyone or anything.

“You guys should accept the reality that Tinubu has not done very well. Leave the Igbo out of your excuses. To ethnicise the protests is to be disingenuous…”

As the nationwide hunger protests entered the second day, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has called on Nigerians to suspend the demonstrations immediately.

Adegboruwa made the plea in a statement on Friday while reacting to the losses recorded during the ongoing demonstrations, stating that it was not the goal of the protests.

He wrote: “I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the federal government.

“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties. The organisers and their representatives should embrace dialogue.

“My sincere condolences to the employers and families of the security personnel and also to the protesters, praying to God to comfort them and to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.”

He further urged President Bola Tinubu to “directly address the nation and then engage the protesters through their representatives.”

DAILY POST reports that Adegboruwa is one of the lawyers of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups participating in the ongoing protests.

Adegboruwa had on July 26, 2024, written to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun on behalf of the group planning the #EndBadGovernance protest to provide police coverage for protesters.

Despite a 24-hour curfew order, reports indicated that protesting youths in Potiskum town of Yobe State have set ablaze a vehicle belonging to the Red Cross Divisional Office.

The protesters were said to have looted items in the divisional office.

DAILY POST had earlier reported that, three protesting youths were gunned down when they attempted to vandalise food stores belonging to some non-governmental organisations operating in the area.

Potiskum, Gashu’a and Nguru towns have been under 24-hour curfew when the August 1 nationwide protests against bad governance turned violent.

As of the time of filling in this report, the Yobe State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has not yet confirmed the incident.

United States Vice President Kamala Harris has secured enough delegates to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee.

Fox News reports that a virtual roll call to formally nominate Harris as the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee kicked off on Thursday.

“I am honored to be the presumptive Democratic nominee,” Harris said on a call with supporters.

The Democratic National Committee’s electronic voting for their party’s 2024 standard bearer comes less than two weeks after President Biden ended his re-election campaign.

Biden instead endorsed Harris to succeed him at the top of the ticket.

Democratic Party is using a virtual roll call which will conclude on Monday.
This is two weeks ahead of the August 19 start of the party’s convention at the United Center in Chicago.

The naira recorded a significant depreciation against the dollar in a single day at the foreign exchange market to end the week on a negative note amid the ongoing hardship protest by Nigerians.

FMDQ data showed that the naira depreciated to N1, 617.08 per dollar on Friday from N1, 570.00 exchange on Thursday, losing N47.08.

Similarly, on the black market, the naira weakened to N1, 610 per dollar on Friday from N1, 600 exchanged the previous day.

A Bureau De Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Dayyabu Ashiru, said: “We buy at N1, 610 per dollar on Friday evening from N1600 Thursday, when offices closed due to the Hardship Protest”.

This has rolled back, the two consecutive gains the naira recorded on Wednesday and Thursday.

DAILY POST reports that on a week-on-week basis, the naira declined at official and parallel foreign exchange markets which recorded N1, 609.29 and N1595 per dollar, respectively, last Friday.

This means that the currency has failed to stabilise despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy interventions in the past months.

However, the gap between the official and parallel FX markets has continued to shrink which stood at N7.08 on Friday.

The development comes as the hardship protest which started on Thursday entered day two on Friday.