The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress has strongly criticised ongoing street demonstrations across the country, particularly in the South East, being held under the #FreeNnamdiKanu banner.
In a statement released on Monday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Seye Oladejo, denounced what he described as “orchestrated tension and politically motivated street agitations,” warning that such actions pose a threat to national unity and democratic stability.
Oladejo alleged that some opposition leaders were behind the protests, accusing them of instigating unrest under the guise of activism.
“It is a classic case of the Biblical hand of Jacob but the voice of Esau,” he said. “This so-called protest is not about justice; it is about political frustration.”
He further claimed the protests were “a deceitful manipulation” and a calculated move by certain political elements who, having lost at the polls, are now resorting to unrest in a bid to remain politically relevant.
“While freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are sacrosanct in any democracy, what we are witnessing is far from a legitimate call for justice,” Oladejo stated. “It is a dangerous display of reckless politics, carefully scripted by desperate opposition figures who see chaos as their last political weapon.”
He condemned the timing of the protests, describing it as deeply insensitive, especially given the ongoing trauma in the South East region resulting from years of violence, kidnappings, and forced sit-at-home orders.
“They ignore the tears of widows, the pains of orphans, and the devastation of communities ruined by senseless violence,” he said. “Their protest is not a demand for justice; it is a betrayal of the sacrifices of the innocent.”
Oladejo painted a grim picture of life in the region, citing the fears of ordinary citizens — traders unable to open shops, transporters grounded by threats, children kept away from school, and families living in fear.
“Yet, instead of standing with their people to heal these wounds, these political opportunists have returned to fan the embers of division, hoping to profit from instability,” he added.
Addressing the legal status of the IPOB leader, Oladejo stressed that the case of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu remains before the courts and must be resolved within the legal framework.
“Let it be clear: no one is above the law. Nigeria’s judiciary is competent, independent, and capable of delivering justice without recourse to mob pressure or street intimidation,” he said.
The APC spokesperson urged security agencies to remain vigilant and called on patriotic Nigerians — particularly South East leaders of thought — to resist what he described as the politics of bitterness.
“Nigeria belongs to all of us, and we must not allow political desperation to tear it apart,” he warned. “There must indeed be a limit to bitter politics.”
Meanwhile, appeals have been made recently to President Bola Tinubu to consider granting clemency to Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.
