The Peoples Redemption Party emphasized that it is the responsibility of all Nigerians to demand better governance from their leaders during difficult economic times.
Regarding the continuous economic hardship and growing insecurity, many Nigerians have criticized President Bola Tinubu.
As a result, Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defense, issued a warning to Nigerians not to criticize the government using strong language.
Matawalle said, “Such comments are inciteful and destructive and can exacerbate tensions and lead to violence in our beloved nation,” according to a statement released on Saturday by the ministry’s director of information and public relations, Henshaw Ogubike.
The PRP responded by characterizing Matawalle’s statement as a violation of Nigerians’ fundamental right to free speech in a statement released on Saturday through acting National Publicity Secretary Muhammad Ishaq.
The statement stated, in part, that the PRP, a democratic institution dedicated to the welfare and advancement of our country, considered such threats to be unjustified and an affront to citizens’ fundamental rights to express their opinions as guaranteed by Nigerian laws, including the Nigerian Constitution, as well as the democratic ideals of holding those in positions of power accountable.
“It is depressing to see those in charge of governance trying to silence dissenting voices as the people of Nigeria continue to struggle with the harsh realities of hunger, economic hardship, and insecurity.
“The Minister’s statement not only betrays a lack of understanding of the justifiable worries and annoyances of the people, as well as their right to protest—a right that President Tinubu had long exercised as an opposition politician—but it also undermines the democratic principles that our country upholds.
The PRP further urged all well-intentioned Nigerians to keep up their vigilance and determination in the fight for sound governance. Remembering that it is their “collective responsibility to demand better governance from those who lead us,” PRP said, is important for Nigerians.
It was stated in the statement that Nigerians must not be intimidated or silenced.
Their voices echo the urgent need for such policies to be reversed in order to bring in good governance, transparency, and practical solutions to the numerous problems they face. They are hungry as a result of policies that they believe to be incorrect.
The statement went on, “It is imperative that public officials understand that their decisions and actions have consequences, and they must be prepared to face the consequences when they fail to live up to the expectations of the people they serve.”
