President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday told former Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria his administration would not fold its arms and watch hooligans hijack the genuine #EndSARS protests.
He noted that despite his accessing to the demands of the protesters, it was unfortunate that his advice to stop the street demonstrations was not respected.
Buhari made this explanation to them during a virtual meeting with his living predecessors, whom he conferred with in the wake of violence that rocked the country as a result of of peaceful protests by young Nigerians demanding the disbandment of notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the police, for human rights abuses.
At the meeting were all living past leaders, including Gen. Yakubu Gowon, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Abulsalami Abubakar, and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A statement issued by presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, after the meeting, disclosed that Buhari informed the ex-leaders that “it is unfortunate that the initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths in parts of the country against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was hijacked and misdirected.”
The President therefore, stressed that “that the Government will not fold its arms and allow miscreants and criminals continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country”.
He recounted the initial concessions made by his administration on the demands of youths protesting against the excesses of some members of the SARS. He recalled that the youths had demanded that the squad be disbanded, and further articulated the additional demands, including: immediate release of all arrested protesters; justice for deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families; independent investigation and prosecution of all reports of Police misconduct within 10 days; and psychological evaluation and re-training of all disbanded SARS officers.
The President declared: ”We accepted all the demands and proceeded immediately to scrap SARS and started the process of addressing the other demands. ”Unfortunately, the protesters refused to call off the protest and engage the Government to address their grievances. Instead, they became emboldened and gradually turned violent.” Buhari expressed concern that in the mayhem that ensued, many lives have been lost, a number of public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalized. He however, reaffirmed to continue to improve good governance through our democratic process including through sustained engagement. The President thanked the former Heads of State for attending the meeting and their invaluable comments, observations and advice, adding that ”Nigerians expect nothing less from responsible statesmen.”
According to Adesina’ statement, each of the former leaders commended President Buhari for steps taken so far to restore calm and order to the country and also applauded the presidential broadcast of Thursday as detailed and soothing to the country. ”I commend the speech of last night. The nation had been waiting. You made points that I believe need to be commended. Peaceful demonstration is part of democratic practice. The demands of the genuine protesters were accepted, and you are working on implementation. We commend you,” former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said. The former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign investments were critical to checking youth restiveness. They also called on youths to pursue peaceful means, in seeking redress through engagement with Government and encouraged further conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country.
