A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has warned the Federal Government against any attempt to arrest the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, over the planned strike against bad governance in the country.
He was reacting to the recent face-off between the former Anambra State governor and one of the presidential spokesmen, Bayo Onanuga, over the planned #EndBadGovernance protest slated to begin across the country on August 1.
Onanuga had in a statement during the week alleged that the protest organised by some unknown persons to express their displeasure over the myriad of problems confronting the country was sponsored by Obi and his supporters
Lawal, who addressed journalists on Thursday in Abuja, also warned the government against using force against the protesters.
He said: “Bola Tinubu should not use a forceful approach with the protesters. They mean well for the country. If they go out to protest and there is an attempt to stop them forcefully, that will be the catalyst for chaos.
“Tinubu should remove Bayo Onanuga from his position because he doesn’t mean well for his government. His outbursts are inflaming Nigerians rather than pacifying them. When you are in government, you don’t insult the people.
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“I don’t know if Onanuga was the Motor Park Touts Association spokesman before he got his current appointment. They said he is educated, but it doesn’t show in his behavior. He has an in-built disdain for people, and it shows in the way he talks.
“I don’t expect a presidential spokesman to come out and say the planned protest is being organized by Peter Obi. If Obi had the character that Onanuga is ascribing to him, this government would have been down a long time ago.
“How can you say Obi has anything to do with the protest? Even to complain, Obi will not let you accompany him.
“It is one of the reasons why some of us just kept away from him. When you insult him, he will not reply. He will just go about doing his own business.
“Let them arrest him if that is their plan and see the consequences. I know that is what Onanuga is working towards. Anyone asking Tinubu to arrest Peter Obi doesn’t mean well for him. It is like they took cyanide with their own hands and swallowed it.
“I don’t know what Onanuga’s problem with Igbos is. Igbos are good people. They are our classmates from primary and secondary school to university. They are our business partners; they are our neighbors.”
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