The former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Prince Uche Secondus has called for peaceful protest just as he reminded President Bola Tinubu that he is a beneficiary of protests.

Secondus recalled that Tinubu while in opposition spearheaded protests against the government of that time, however harped on the need for civic action to save the country from collapse in the face of unprecedented economic crisis and insecurity caused by bad governance.

The former PDP leader, in a statement yesterday, said the state of anomie in the country worsened because the citizens failed in their duty to hold governments at all levels to account.

He said political leaders often use ethnic and religious sentiments to either discourage protests when they are in government or encourage them when they are in opposition.

According to the former PDP boss, the planned #EndBadGovernanceProtest “is a non-partisan, pan-Nigerian and altruistic engagement of the citizens aimed at addressing the malaise in our country.

“This protest should not be discouraged. Protests remain the most potent democratic platform through which the consciousness of nations can be aroused and indeed the consciousness of the leadership elite can be nudged and compelled to act right in the interest of citizens”.

Secondus contended that the injunction in the Holy Bible which says “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” applies to the situation of Nigerians.

“In essence, this is not the time to sweep issues under the carpet; it is the time to speak truth to power and awaken our collective conscience so that we can work together to build a better society.”

He therefore called on all protesters to be organised, peaceful and shun all acts of violence.

He also said governments, at all levels, and security agencies should provide the necessary security environment to ensure peace and order by international law and the Nigerian Constitution.