Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.
72 hours after Nigerians, mostly youths, took to the streets across the nation in protest against the downturn in the economy, President Bola Tinubu has said he has heard them “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”, Tinubu said in a broadcast to the nation this morning.
“But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity”.
The President called the task before Nigeria a collective one, saying: “And I am leading the charge as your President. A lot of work has gone into stabilising our economy and I must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.”
Tinubu spoke on Day Four of the 10-day nationwide protest organised under the auspices of #EndBadGovernance.
There are no clear leaders for the protest and demands vary.
But a particular list circulating on social media talks about 12-point demand.
The demands are listed as follows:
•Revert petrol pump price to N100/litre
•Combat insecurity and hunger
•Close all IDP camps and resettle the campers
•Total electoral reform
•Independent probe into the electoral budget of N355 billion
•Immediate release of ENDSARS protesters still in detention
•Implementation of living wage (minimum wage of N300k)
•Compulsory free education from primary to secondary school
•Children of public school holders must attend public schools in the country
•Government must patronise made-in-Nigeria goods
•Transition to unicameral legislation
•Judicial and constitutional review
The President had been criticised for failing to address aggrieved Nigerians ahead of the protest which has killed some in parts of the country and even waiting days into the demonstrations before doing so.
In the broadcast, Tinubu enjoined the protesters and organisers to suspends any further protest and create room for dialogue.
The full text:
*I speak to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.
*Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled.
*I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country. The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.
*I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction.
*As President of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.
*Under the circumstances, 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.
Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation. To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.
*Our democracy progresses when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian are respected and protected. Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.