Daniel Bwala, a former spokesperson for the Atiku Campaign Organization in the 2023 Presidential election, has voiced strong criticism against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for endorsing the proposed nationwide protest.
Speaking to reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, Bwala labeled the planned protest as unnecessary and politically motivated.
Bwala, who described the protest as lacking merit, urged opposition members to rise above political motivations and support President Tinubu’s efforts to transform Nigeria’s economy.
“I was delighted to have met with Mr. President today to show solidarity with him for his tireless effort in addressing the problems confronting the Nigerian people,” Bwala said.
He continued, “Mr. President is genuinely concerned about the plight of our people and he is working hard to address them. Let us keep faith and hope alive, knowing that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”
While acknowledging the constitutional right to peaceful protest, Bwala expressed skepticism about the potential for a nationwide demonstration to remain peaceful, asserting that it is unlikely to achieve positive outcomes.
In a significant political move, Bwala also announced his departure from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and his imminent return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he was previously a member before joining the PDP in 2022.
The remarks come amid reports of planned nationwide protests between August 1 and 15, driven by rising living costs and economic hardship.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had earlier argued that Nigerians should be allowed to exercise their right to peaceful protest, criticizing the current administration for attempting to suppress these rights.
He also highlighted the irony of those now opposing protests having led similar demonstrations in the past, describing the administration’s stance as an “exercise in futility.”