August 1: Bayelsa APC calls for counter-protests

The All Progressives Congress, APC has urged its members in Bayelsa to shun the proposed nationwide protest, calling instead for a rally in support of President Bola Tinubu.

Speaking at a news conference in Yenagoa on Wednesday, the state party chairman, Mr Dennis Otiotio, said any APC member found protesting in Bayelsa would be sanctioned accordingly.

Otiotio said the news conference was called to address the nation, particularly members of the party on the position of APC in Bayelsa concerning the proposed protest.

“We are against the proposed nationwide protest, not because people do not have the right to protest, but we are democrats and we are progressives; the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a progressive and a Democrat.

“So, we believe that everyone has the right to freedom of association; everyone has the right to express their grievances peacefully and lawfully.

“We believe that people protesting must protest within the ambit of the law,” he said.

According to him, memories of the EndSARS protest of 2020 and the recent protest in Kenya attest to the fact that protests taken beyond lawful provisions can escalate into violence.

He said the party in Bayelsa, from the ward, through the local government to the state levels, had, therefore, resolved to shun the protest in the interest of democracy and Nigeria.

“I am calling on all our members to stage a solidarity rally to support the government and policies of President Tinubu, that is what we are going to do.

“We have written letters to the Commissioner of Police, Director of DSS and the JTF for the permit to allow us to stage a solidarity rally in support of the policies and programmes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.