* Date yet unannounced- sources
* Strategy to woo voters
As the clamour for the nation’s number one office in 2027 gathers stream, three prominent politicians behind the growing coalition, Atiku, Obi and el’Rufai are set to organise a nationwide protest against bad governance, DAUDA ISMAIL writes.
As the proposed opposition coalition continues to gather momentum, three prominent politicians behind the calls, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, and former Governor Peter Obi, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and Labour Party presidential flag bearers in the 2023 general elections respectively, and former governor of Kaduna State and a leading opposition voice to the President Tinubu’s administration, Mallam Nasir el’Rufai have joined forces to organise a nationwide anti-bad governance protest, which sources say, they’re planning to make sure it’s replicated by Nigerans living in the Diaspora.
AljazirahNigeria Newspapers was realiabley informed that the organisers of this forthcoming protests, though they have not disclosed the date, “are planning for it to dwarf even the end sars and end bad governance protests.
Recall that Nigeria witnessed an End Bad Governance protests, widely known by the hashtags #EndBadGovernance or #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, a series of decentralised mass protests in Nigeria that mainly occurred from August 1 to 10, 2024, triggered by the rising cost of living in the country.
These protests were met with a show of force from the nation’s security agencies which lead to the death of some protesters while many others were either injured or arrested.
According to a report by Amnesty International, “Nigeria has a long-standing culture of violent attacks on peaceful protests by security agencies, but with the #EndBadGovernance protests, the harassment and intimidation started ahead of, during and after the protests.”
Speaking to our reporter, a source who chose to remain anonymous for security reasons said: “I can tell you that the three leading opposition politicians – Atiku, Obi and el’Rufai are planing a massive protest against President Tinubu’s bad governance that has multipled the hardship, suffering and insecurity in the country. Not only are they planning for the protests to hold across the country, but they want Nigerans living in other countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia and even Africa to join the planned protests so that the whole world will see and know that Nigerans are fed up with the current administration.
“I bet you that it will not only shock members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and their cronies and sympathisers, but shall make the government experience reall fear that they never imagined. That is when APC will know that not only are Nigerians fed up, but that they have been united across party, religious and ethics borders.”
Incidentally, all three opposition politicians have been very vocal in condemning the current administration.
Recall that el’Rufai has been very vocal in criticising the Tinubu administration which he played a major role in installing. Recently, he
delivered what many described as the worst critique of President Tinubu’s administration, labeling it the most corrupt and intolerant government Nigeria has seen since the return to democracy in 1999.
“This is the most corrupt and most intolerant government in Nigeria. It is the most lying government that depends on false propaganda. They lied that security has improved in Nigeria.
“In Kaduna, Dogo Gide is still around, Mallam Abba, the Boko Haram terrorist is still alive. Bello Turji is still around but every day, they announce names of people that are bandits’ leaders that they have killed and [say] security has improved,” he said.
“How many local governments are under the occupation of bandits in Katsina State? How many are occupied by bandits in Zamfara State and some parts of Sokoto State? And because you are in government you think that nothing would happen?
“I have said it before, this is the worst Federal Government in Nigerian history and all the indices have shown it,”he concluded.
Just on Thursday, Peter Obi, condemned the level of corruption under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying Nigeria has become a crime scene.
“Corruption is at its worst in this administration. Nigeria has now become a crime scene. The present government has borrowed more money in two years than the governments of Umar Musa Yar’adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari combined.
“Today, Nigeria’s public debt is estimated to be close to N188 trillion. Nigerians were informed that the borrowings were to fund critical areas of development. Still, no significant improvements in education, healthcare and poverty alleviation,”the Labour Party chieftain noted.
Continuing, he said: “The president should stop touring outside Nigeria and use the remaining two years to tour the Nigerian states.
“Mr President, you have already spent 150 days on foreign trips; if you tour Nigerian states for an average of 2 days each, it would only be about 72 days, which is half of the time you spent outside on foreign trips. You must now go around Nigeria to see for the first time what your citizens are going through. It is time to stop governance by remote control,”the former Anambra governor had said.
Just a couple of days ago, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, again launched a scathing critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s handling of Nigeria’s worsening security situation, accusing him of absence and indifference in the face of national tragedy.
In a strongly worded statement shared via his official Facebook page, Atiku condemned the administration’s failure to address the recent violent attacks in Benue State, which left scores dead in the Logo and Gbagir communities of Ukum Local Government Area.
“The Tinubu administration has proven, time and again, to be utterly incapable, wholly incompetent, and completely devoid of any coherent ideas for tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
“This is not just my position – it is a growing consensus among political opposition leaders, respected security experts, and even members within the ruling party.”
And just as Nigerans were commemorating the nation’s return to democracy on Thursday June 12, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of eroding the ideals of June 12, and that the country could no longer be considered a functioning democracy under the present administration.
In separate Democracy Day statements both leaders painted a grim picture of Nigeria’s political and economic landscape, accusing the Federal Government of dismantling hard-won democratic gains, suppressing dissent, manipulating public perception, and governing with authoritarian intent.
According to a respondent, Dwnjuma Idris, “anyone who has watched how these three opposition figures have made it a point of duty to castigate and condemn the Tinubu administration, it doesn’t come as a surprise that they are planning something as destructive to the administration as a nationwide protest as it is a strategy to woo unsuspecting voters to their camp and thus, oust Presint Tinubu. But I know that while they are yet to announce a date, achieving that will be a Herculean task for the growing opposition no matter their number.”
