Speaking at the Second Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture in Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos, the Senior Presidential Media Aide, Tunde Rahman, dismissed claims of bad governance in Nigeria.
During his address, Rahman challenged the perception of the protest being labeled as ‘End Bad Governance,’ expressing his disagreement with the notion of governance being poor in the country. He specifically criticized headlines portraying the protest as a ‘Hardship Protest’ or ‘Hunger Protest,’ deeming them as biased editorial decisions. His remarks were directed towards a primarily editorial audience comprising editors and media professionals.
Rahman also raised skepticism about the organizers of the impending August 1, 2024, protests, labeling them as “faceless.”
The varied reactions from attendees at the Nigerian Guild of Editors-organized event reflected the contentious nature of Rahman’s statements.
Appealing for patience from Nigerians towards President Bola Tinubu in addressing the nation’s economic woes, Rahman discouraged support for the Take It Back Movement, a key organizer of the upcoming nationwide demonstrations scheduled for Thursday.
In anticipation of the protests, security agencies, including the police, military, and civil defense, have commenced the deployment of officers nationwide and in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, to ensure public safety.
As Nigerians await the developments preceding Thursday, the hashtag “EndBadGovernanceInNigeria” continues to gain prominence on social media.
The Managing Director of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Joseph Adeyeye, is set to deliver a speech at the event, focusing on the theme “Rapidly Changing Media Landscape: Media Survival Strategies.”