Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, has expressed support for the planned protest scheduled for August 1.

Justice Faloye, the publicity secretary of Afenifere, who spoke in an interview on Arise TV, said the group warned the federal government about the implications of its economic policies on Nigerians.

Faloye’s comments followed the planned nationwide protest slated for August 1.

The federal government and President Bola Tinubu have asked the youths to shelve the planned protest against the rising cost of living.

Faloye said the planned protest was triggered by the economic crisis in the country, which he noted was caused by the policies of the Tinubu-led government.

The group’s spokesperson said Tinubu’s policies are “superficial” and cannot address the hardship in the country.

He added that the planned protest is an ‘organic reaction” to the economic policies of the Tinubu-led government.

“Afenifere is not planning to be a part of the protest, but we support anybody who wants to express their fundamental human rights,” Faloye said.

“We, in Afenifere, have been warning about the economic policies and that if it continues like this, you can’t stop people.

“Right from the beginning, we have shown you that you have gone on the wrong path. Afenifere has been saying that we need economic and political restructuring.

“All we have are palliatives and superficial moves that can’t resolve anything. We understand that the protest is an organic reaction.”

He appealed to the federal government to allow the protesters to express themselves, adding that protest usually turns violent when the government tries to stop it.

The Cable