Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu, has advised President Bola Tinubu against adopting an authoritarian approach in response to citizens’ right to protest.
Momodu’s remarks came after statements from Nigerian security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, and the Defence Headquarters, warning against the planned hunger protest by citizens.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Friday, Momodu reminded President Tinubu of his own history of participating in protests against government policies before he assumed the presidency.
Reflecting on Tinubu’s earlier role as a pro-democracy figure, Momodu noted, “As I reminisce about your early days as a senator, I recall your active involvement in fighting against military rule. Your commitment during the June 12 election annulment was commendable.”
Momodu criticized Tinubu for failing to grasp the complexities of governing a country compared to managing a state. He stated, “Since you achieved your lifelong ambition of becoming president, many Nigerians have faced hardships due to your economic policies. It appears you have underestimated the challenges of national governance compared to managing Lagos State.”
The PDP chieftain expressed concern that Tinubu, once a staunch advocate for democratic freedoms, is now seemingly restricting citizens’ right to protest. “It’s disheartening that someone who fought for democracy is now restricting Nigerians’ ability to peacefully assemble and demonstrate, a right we both enjoyed during military regimes,” Momodu said.
While he condemned any form of anarchy, Momodu emphasized the importance of containing threats effectively. “I support peace initiatives, but I believe that any potential threats should be promptly addressed by security agencies,” he added.
Momodu urged Tinubu to seek advice from his former allies in civil liberties and to use the current situation to assess the capabilities of Nigeria’s security forces. “Return to your original friends who fought for democracy with you and test the strength of our security agencies. Resist the temptation to adopt a dictatorial approach and ignore the advice of those who benefit from the status quo,” Momodu concluded.
