After breaking his silence since the deadly Lekki Toll Gate shooting of unarmed peaceful young #EndSARS protesters, Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday appealed to demonstrators demanding action to overhaul the nation’s Police to end their protests.
In his address, the president stressed that it had become necessary to address the youths after concluding a meeting with all the security chiefs and having heard from many concerned Nigerians.
The president however failed to address salient issues such as the mystery that now surrounds the Lekki Toll Gate shooting alleged to have been masterminded by men of the Nigerian army and videos going the rounds that suggests that men believed to be state agents were seen supervising thugs to lunch attack on unarmed protesters on the street of Abuja.
READ ALSO:
Oyo: [Graphic Video] Man Set Ablazed as Gov Makinde Begs for Calm
While he urged the #EndSARS protesters to bring to an end their demonstrations, President Buhari assured Nigerians that the government has heard their voice and was working to meet their demands on the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and others.
The President also urged the international community to verify facts before jumping into conclusion.
“To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.
“In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.
“For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated. I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding”, he said.
President Buhari also sounded a note of warning to those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well-intended protest of some of the youths in parts of the country against deviant acts.
He said while he acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of F-SARS and acted decisively, the speed at it the squad was disbanded was misconstrued to be weakness on the part of government.
“The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.
“As democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS, and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth. On approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.
“Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests.
READ ALSO:
#EndSARS: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Dissociates Igbos from Nnamdi Kanu on Destruction of Yoruba Assets
“The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalised; the sanctity of the Palace of a Peace Maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.
“All these executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost. These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country”.
President Buhari also commented on the rising spread of falsehood and misinformation, especially through the social media, describing it as insensitive to the pains and plight of Nigerians. He stated further that it was a deliberate ploy to mislead gullible citizens within and outside the country “into unfair judgement and disruptive behavior”.
He noted that against such falsehood, his administration, both in deeds and in words, has given enough attention “to the wellbeing and welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic”.
He explained that government has put in place measures and initiatives principally targeted at youths, women and the most vulnerable groups in the society.
The president listed some of the measures to include the administration broad plan to lift 100million Nigerians out of poverty in the next 10 years, and the creation of N75billion National Youth Investment Fund to provide opportunities for the youths.
He also listed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Survival Fund, through which government is “paying three months salaries of the staff of 100,000 micro, small – and medium – enterprises, paying for the registration of 250,000 businesses at the Corporate Affairs Commission, giving a grant of N30,000 to 100,000 artisans, and guaranteeing market for the products of traders”.
These, he noted, are in addition to many other initiatives such Farmermoni, Tradermoni, Marketmoni, N-Power, N-Tech and N-Agro.
Buhari said no Nigerian government in the past had methodically and seriously approached poverty-alleviation like the present has done.
On the welfare of police personnel, Buhari said the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission has been directed to expedite action on the finalizing the new salary structure of members of the Nigeria Police Force, adding that the emoluments of other paramilitary services were also being reviewed upwards.
He continued: “In order to underscore the importance of education in preparing youths for the future, this administration has come up with a new salary structure and other incentives for our teachers.
“Let me at this point reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
“We will continue to improve good governance and our democratic process, including through sustained engagement.
“We shall continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected.
“But remember that government also has the obligation to protect lives and properties, as well as the right of citizens to go about their daily businesses freely and protected from acts of violence”.
READ ALSO:
Lawmakers Begs for Calm as #EndSARS Protest Assumes Violent Dimension in Ondo State
The president called on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, even as he enjoined security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect.
He also paid tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.
The president stated: “I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. I also thank youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands.
“This government respects and will continue to respect all the democratic rights and civil liberties of the people, but it will not allow anybody or groups to disrupt the peace of our nation. Thank you all. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
