The zonal chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, has strongly criticized the organizers of the recent EndBadGovernance protests, accusing them of deliberately misleading supporters and then abandoning them to face consequences alone.
Speaking to journalists in Enugu yesterday, Dr. Arodiogbu described the protest organizers' actions as "the height of irresponsibility and political deception," noting that many supporters now languish in detention while the conveners seek public sympathy.
"What we are witnessing is the unmasking of a sinister agenda," Dr. Arodiogbu declared. "These so-called activists mobilized innocent citizens under the guise of promoting good governance, but their real intention was to create chaos and make Nigeria ungovernable."
The APC chairman revealed that intelligence reports indicate the protests were orchestrated to destabilize the current administration. "The organizers deliberately misled people about the true nature of their agenda. They exploited genuine concerns about governance to advance their destructive objectives," he stated.
Dr. Arodiogbu expressed particular outrage at what he termed the "shocking abandonment" of protesters who were arrested during the demonstrations. "These same individuals who promised to stand with protesters have now disappeared, leaving their followers to face the consequences alone. It is only now, when they seek public sympathy, that they remember those they led astray."
"How can they claim to fight for good governance when they cannot even govern their own protest movement with basic decency and responsibility?" the chairman questioned. He added that several detained protesters have expressed feeling betrayed upon discovering the alleged hidden agenda behind the demonstrations.
The zonal chairman urged Nigerians to be wary of what he described as "merchants of chaos" who hide behind legitimate concerns to pursue destructive agendas. "We must distinguish between genuine advocates for better governance and those who seek to exploit public sentiment for nefarious purposes," he warned.
According to Dr. Arodiogbu, the APC has received numerous complaints from families of detained protesters who claim they were never informed about the risks involved in participating in the demonstrations. "These organizers knew the potential consequences but deliberately withheld this information from their supporters," he alleged.
"It is the height of hypocrisy that these same individuals now seek public sympathy while those they misled remain in detention," Dr. Arodiogbu continued. "Where were they when these supporters needed legal representation? Where were they when families needed support?"
The chairman called on relevant authorities to investigate the true motives behind the protests and hold organizers accountable for their actions. He emphasized that while the right to peaceful protest is guaranteed under Nigeria's constitution, it should not be abused to promote instability.
"We cannot stand idle while some elements hide behind the façade of activism to pursue an agenda of chaos," Dr. Arodiogbu insisted. "The EndBadGovernance protest has revealed itself to be nothing more than a calculated attempt to destabilize our democracy."
He concluded by urging young people in the Southeast and the entire federation to channel their energies into constructive engagement with government rather than allowing themselves to be used as instruments of destabilization. "The path to better governance lies in constructive dialogue and democratic processes, not in actions designed to make our country ungovernable," the chairman stated.