President Muhammadu Buhari has said the #EndSARS protesters were emboldened to perpetuate violence across the country because the Federal Government accepted their “5 For 5” demands on police brutality.
President Buhari made the claim while speaking at a virtual meeting he had with former Nigerian leaders on Friday, according to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.
Nigerians across the federation had protested for the past two weeks under the #EndSARS movement, clamouring for the scrapping of the now-disbanded Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (F-SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force, as well as an end to police brutality and extortion in the country.
However, some suspected thugs launched attacks on peaceful protesters and vandalised properties, indicating that the protests may have been hijacked.
Speaking on the rising violence in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests across the country, President Buhari who presided over the meeting from council chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, lamented that the initial genuine and well-intended protest of the youths was hijacked and misdirected.
The statement read: “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.”
President Buhari was quoted to have expressed concern over mayhem that ensued, noting many lives have been lost, a number of public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalised.
He stated that his government will not fold its arms and allow miscreants and criminals continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country.
He reiterated his pledge to Nigerians from in nationwide broadcast on Thursday that “we will continue to improve good governance through our democratic process including through sustained engagement.
“We shall also continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected. Here, I want to also reaffirm our commitment to preserving the unity of this country.”
The president thanked the former leaders for attending the meeting and their invaluable comments, observations and advice, adding that “Nigerians expect nothing less from responsible statesmen”.
According to the statement, each of the former leaders commended 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.”
Former leaders who participated virtually at the meeting include Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan, and Ernest Shoneken.
Those who were present at the council chambers with the president include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Boss Mustapha, secretary to government of the federation, Ibrahim Gambari, chief of staff to the president, and Babagana Monguno, national security adviser.
Others include Gabriel Olanisakin, the Chief of Defence Staff; Mohammed Adamu, Inspector-General of Police; Yusuf Bichi, Director-General of the Department of State Services, and Ahmed Rufai, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency
No comments:
Post a Comment