Tinubu urges Nigerians to Suspend #EndBadGovernance Protests

President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerians to halt the #EndBadGovernance protests and engage in dialogue.

In a Sunday broadcast, President Tinubu reassured Nigerians of his administration’s commitment to good governance despite the socio-economic challenges facing the nation.

He expressed sorrow over the loss of lives and properties during the protests, noting that the destruction of public and private assets hampers national progress, as resources must be redirected to restore them. He extended his condolences to the families of those who died in the protests, emphasizing the need to stop further violence and destruction.

The President warned that his administration would not allow politically motivated individuals to destabilize the country under the pretense of protests.

“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. 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 said.

‘FG Will Address Your Concerns’

“Fellow Nigerians, 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. 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. 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,” he added.

Protesters’ Demands
Since the protests began on Thursday, opposition figures, including Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members and Tinubu’s election rivals, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, have urged him to address the grievances of defiant youths protesting the faltering economy and the resulting hardships.

In recent months, the prices of food and basic commodities have skyrocketed, exacerbating one of Nigeria’s worst inflation rates and economic crises, driven by the government’s removal of petrol subsidies and unification of forex windows.

The #EndBadGovernance protests, primarily organized via social media, entered their third day on Saturday as determined youths pressed on, demanding that Tinubu meet their calls for action. Protesters are demanding the restoration of petrol subsidies, changes to the forex regime, solutions to food shortages and unemployment, reductions in government spending, and immediate reforms of the electoral body INEC and anti-graft agency EFCC to fight corruption more effectively.

The protests turned violent in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and other states, where hoodlums exploited the situation to burn vehicles and loot warehouses and private stores. Police reported seven deaths related to the protests but denied that security agents were responsible.

By Day 3, police were seen dispersing protesters with tear gas, a move condemned by civil society organizations.