PRP responds to Matawalle, saying Nigerians have right to demand better governance.

The Peoples Redemption Party emphasized that it is the duty of all Nigerians to demand better governance from their leaders when the country is experiencing economic hardship.

Many Nigerians have criticized President Bola Tinubu for the country’s continued economic hardship and rising levels of insecurity.

As a result, Nigerians were cautioned by Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defense, not to use provocative language when criticizing the government.

Matawalle asserted in a statement released on Saturday by the ministry’s director of information and public relations, Henshaw Ogubike, that “such comments are inciteful and destructive and can exacerbate tensions and lead to violence in our beloved nation.”

In response, the PRP described Matawalle’s statement as a violation of Nigerians’ fundamental right to free speech in a statement released on Saturday by Muhammad Ishaq, acting national publicity secretary.

Part of the statement said, “We in the PRP find such threats not only unwarranted but also an affront to the fundamental rights of citizens to express their opinions as enshrined in the Nigerian Laws, inclusive of the Nigerian Constitution, as well as the democratic tenets to hold those in power accountable. As a democratic institution committed to the welfare and progress of our nation.”

It is depressing to see individuals in charge of governance trying to silence critics as the people of Nigeria endure more hardships related to starvation, the economy, and security.

“The Minister’s remarks not only betray the democratic values that our country upholds, but they also demonstrate a lack of comprehension of the justifiable worries and annoyances of the general public, as well as their right to protest—a right that President Tinubu had long enjoyed as an opposition leader.

The PRP also urged all well-meaning Nigerians to keep up their vigilance and resolve in the fight for effective government. Nigerians have a “collective responsibility to demand better governance from those who lead us,” according to PRP, and they must never forget this.

The statement went on to say that Nigerians must not be intimidated or silenced.

“They are hungry as a result of policies that they believe to be incorrect, and their voices reflect the urgent need to reverse such policies in order to introduce good governance, transparency, and practical solutions to the numerous problems they face.

The statement also stated that public servants “must be prepared to face the music when they fall short of the expectations of the people they serve” and that they “must understand that their actions and decisions have consequences.”