Tinubu calls youths to suspend ongoing nationwide protests
…rules out return of fuel Subsidy
By Matthew Denis
President Bola Tinubu, in a nationwide address on Sunday, called on protesters across the country to end the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Recall that the protest tagged #EndBadGovernance started on the 1st of August and is expected to end on the 10th of the month.
The reaction of the President came after several calls from prominent Nigerians like the ex-vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi and several others to attend to the demands of the protesters and address them.
The protest which had been hijacked in some states have seen government and private properties been looted and damaged.
President Tinubu who spoke 7 am, on Sunday, expressed sadness over the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of our states.
NewsDirect reports that Tinubu noted that he is 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 President who spoke on those who lost their love ones said, “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.
According to him the decision to remove the fuel Subsidy was painful, it was necessary because it has constituted a noose around the economic “jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.”
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.”
He also noted that his administration is putting in place polices that would make life better for Nigerians, pointing to the recent approval of the new minimum wage.
