Cardinal John Onaiyekan, the Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, has sent a strong message to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to act decisively to prevent further turmoil in Nigeria. Onaiyekan called on Tinubu to heed the demands of Nigerians, which were voiced during the EndBadGovernance protests, emphasizing that unarmed protesters are not the root cause of the nation’s problems.
The EndBadGovernanceInNigeria movement saw citizens take to the streets for 10 days to protest the hardship and suffering across the country. In response to the protests, President Tinubu had expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with those who are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in Nigeria.
However, speaking in Abuja yesterday, Cardinal Onaiyekan criticized Tinubu’s approach, suggesting that the president should actively initiate the dialogue. He stated, “Unarmed protesters are not our problem. The government must change its attitude and address the root causes of people’s suffering.” He further noted that most of the protesters are young Nigerians under 35, who are educated and skilled, yet face economic hardships. He urged the government to take concrete steps to alleviate their pain and suffering.
Peoplesmind
