The Take It Back Movement, Youth Rights Campaign, and the Creative Change Center have vowed to continue their protest in response to President Bola Tinubu’s appeal to end the statewide demonstrations that have claimed several lives since Thursday. President Tinubu demanded communication and an early termination of the demonstrations, which have shook the country since Thursday.
Marchers, mostly young people, have been protesting against “bad governance” and economic hardship in various states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In Abuja, tear gas and gunfire were used to scatter demonstrators and journalists, and security personnel made multiple arrests on Saturday.
President Tinubu expressed his condolences to the families of Nigerians who lost property to looting reported in several states and those who lost loved ones in fighting with security forces. He emphasized that in order to reshape the nation’s shared destiny, all hands must be on deck, regardless of age, party, tribe, religion, or other differences.
In response to Tinubu’s plea, Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilization for the Take It Back campaign, stated that the organization would keep organizing large-scale support for the protest and insisting on the unconditional release of those detained. The Civil Society Situation Room reported that 1,150 people had been detained, and 21 people had died and been injured in altercations with security personnel. However, the police reported that 681 offenders had been taken into custody for a variety of offenses between Thursday and Friday.
Adenola revealed that they are working feverishly to secure the protestors’ release, noting that their attorneys were also attempting to do this. They demand the immediate and unconditional release of all protestors who have been arrested, and they will keep organizing legal help, offering them resources, and telling their stories. They will also hold the government responsible for any abuses of their human rights or mistreatment they may have experienced while they were being held.
Michael Lenin, the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign, stated that in addition to collaborating with attorneys, his organization was also trying to get activists who had been arrested released. He claimed to have seen the military use force against protestors and called the government’s use of force “very sinister.”
Omole Ibukun, the initiator of the Creative Change Center, clarified that a number of the protesting groups were organizing to secure the release of detained demonstrators. He stated that more Nigerians were being mobilized by the organizers as a result of the government’s choice to use force to break up the rallies.
The President has been criticized for his controversial speech, which he described as “underwhelming” and “failed to connect with the anger and protesting citizens on the streets.” The playwright argued that the use of lethal means by state security agencies is a prelude to more desperate upheavals and revolutions. He urged Nigeria to recall its history and set an example by recalling its own history and implementing lasting transformations. Former education minister Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili also expressed disappointment with the speech, stating that it failed to address the citizens’ concerns and that the President only addressed his cabinet members.
The Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been met with widespread criticism and criticism following his recent address to the nation. Some critics argue that Tinubu’s speech was underwhelming, as it failed to connect with the anger and protests of the people. Others, such as former education minister Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, former Minister of Sports under former President Muhammadu Buhari Solomon Dalung, and pro-democracy group NADECO-USA, have criticized the speech for failing to address pressing issues such as insecurity and unemployment.
Opposition parties have also condemned Tinubu’s speech, claiming it was shallow and did not show any signs of the Federal Government having a clue on how to reverse the hardship and economic woes plaguing the country. Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the President was “not in charge” of the running of the affairs of the country and that the speech was empty, shallow, and shows he is bereft of ideas.
The National Working Committee of Labour Party, National Legal Adviser of LP, Kehinde Edun, and the National Publicity Secretary of New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, also expressed disappointment with the speech. They believe that Tinubu and his team have buckled down by giving the notion that there is no going back on their policies, which is not what Nigerians want to hear.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended Tinubu’s courage to address Nigerians amidst the ongoing protest across the country, while the APC insists that the President had done the right thing by addressing the people and showing that he cares. National Director of Publicity for the ruling party, Bala Ibrahim, expressed disappointment with the opposition, describing it as “unreasonable” and “an act of ungodliness.”
In conclusion, the Nigerian President’s recent address to the nation has been met with widespread criticism. Some critics argue that Tinubu’s speech was shallow, lacking in action, and did not address the pressing issues that Nigerians are demanding. The National Working Committee of Labour Party and the National Publicity Secretary of New Nigeria People’s Party have also expressed disappointment with the President’s performance, arguing that he has not addressed the demands of the protesters and that the government needs to take action to address these issues.
