President Bola Ahmed Tinubu addressing Nigerians for the first time since the #EndBadGovernance protest began since Thursday urged protesters to suspend the ongoing protests and embrace dialogue to address issues of concern.
“I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity,” he said in Sunday’s broadcast.
“Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering the governance to the people – good governance for that matter,” he said.
He also emphasized that the youths demands have been heard loud and clear
“My dear Nigerians, especially our youths, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.”
Speaking with a sense of gravity and responsibility, President Tinubu expressed his sorrow over the violent turn of the protests, which have resulted in loss of lives and destruction of property in states such as Borno, Jigawa, Kano, and Kaduna.
He extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and decried the looting and damage to public facilities and businesses, which he noted would require significant resources to rebuild.
While the anti-government demonstrations were largely peaceful in the south, it was characterised by violence, looting, and clashes with security personnel in Kano, Katsina, Yobe, Abuja and other parts of the northern region, prompting the declaration of curfews in some states.
At least, 17 people have been killed since the protests began across Nigeria on Thursday. The fatalities occurred in various locations, including Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa.
Peoplesmind
