Pat Utomi, a political economist and Labour Party chieftain, has denied allegations of involvement in the upcoming August nationwide protest.
Bayo Onanuga, a spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, accused supporters of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi of organizing the upcoming “End Bad Government” protest.
Onanuga identified Utomi, along with other notable figures and social media users, as the alleged organizers of the demonstration.
In response to these claims, Utomi took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to clarify his position.
He emphasized his support for the right to protest, stating, “Let it be clear that I have nothing against protests. It is a legitimate instrument of democracy for raising the voice of citizens.”
Utomi recounted his history of participation in protests, referencing his involvement during his undergraduate years at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and his support for the 2020 EndSARS protests, despite not knowing the organizers personally.
Addressing the allegations directly, Utomi said, “If I were part of whatever is being planned for August, I would wear it as a badge of honor and not wait to be called out by Bayo Onanuga.”