Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has come down hard on the ongoing #FreeNnamdiKanuProtest, describing it as a politically driven spectacle masked as activism, particularly in the South East.
In a strongly worded statement on Monday, the party’s spokesperson, Mr. Seye Oladejo, criticized what he termed “coordinated unrest” designed to incite tension and manipulate public sentiment.
He alleged that some opposition figures — individuals “who should know better” — are actively supporting and bankrolling the demonstrations, accusing them of stoking instability for political gain.
According to Oladejo, “It’s a classic case of the Biblical hand of Jacob but the voice of Esau,” referring to the covert involvement of these political actors in the protests.
While acknowledging that peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are foundational to any democracy, Oladejo insisted that what’s playing out in the streets is “far from a legitimate call for justice.”
“What we are witnessing is a dangerous display of reckless politics, carefully scripted by desperate opposition figures who see chaos as their last political weapon,” he said.
“This so-called protest is not about justice; it is about political frustration. It represents the height of bitter, destructive politics – an attempt by those who have been roundly rejected by Nigerians at the polls to exploit national issues in search of cheap relevance.”
He went on to criticize the timing and insensitivity of the protests, especially given the recent history of violence, kidnappings, and disruption in the South East.
“Their protest is not a demand for justice; it is a betrayal of the sacrifices of the innocent,” Oladejo added.
“They ignore the tears of widows, the pains of orphans, and the devastation of communities ruined by senseless violence.”
He noted that for years, ordinary citizens in the region have lived under a cloud of fear — shopkeepers afraid to open, transport grounded by threats, children kept out of school, and families left broken by insecurity.
“Yet, instead of helping to heal these wounds, these political opportunists are back to stoking division, hoping to benefit from the chaos,” he said.
Oladejo also emphasized that the matter of Nnamdi Kanu remains a legal issue and not one to be decided in the streets.
“Let it be clear: no one is above the law. The case of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu remains a judicial matter properly before the courts. Nigeria’s judiciary is competent, independent, and capable of delivering justice without recourse to mob pressure or street intimidation.”
He called on security agencies to stay alert and urged leaders in the South East and across the country to reject what he termed the “antics of those who traffic in 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.”
