The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has expressed a different position from the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, over the planned nationwide protest.
Some youths are planning a nationwide protest between August 1 and 1o against the rising cost of living and economic hardship.
Naija News earlier reported that Peter Obi, during a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, endorsed the planned protest.
The former Governor of Anambra State noted that it is the constitutional right of citizens to protest, stressing that hunger and hopelessness are responsible for the agitation. 
He said protesters must carry out the demonstration within the ambit of the law.
However, Otti, while speaking with Channels TV, admitted that things are difficult in the country, but the bad governance people are currently complaining about started during the previous administrations.
He emphasised that protesting without police approval is illegal.
He said: “It would be very unfair to say things are not difficult now. Things are very difficult, that is true, but how do you solve the problem? The problem we find ourselves in the country today is economic. We are actually paying the price for bad governance that didn’t start today.
“First of all, for you to organise a protest, the law requires that you get approval from security forces, particularly the police. Somebody should take responsibility for getting that approval.
“So, if you don’t have the approval, it will be against the law to go out on the streets and protest. My final word is that people should think about the implications of pouring out on the streets, restricting the movement of other people and inflicting more hardship.
“For people in Abia, my advice is that people should not pour out on the street, because it may be more hurtful than the reason for the protest people are calling for.”
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