By Anule Emmanuel
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday broke his silence telling Nigerian protesters that he has heard loud and clearly, their grievances and concerns but warned those taking undue advantage of the ongoing nationwide protests to perpetrate violence and threaten peace in some parts of the country to stop or face the wrath of the law.
Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets on Thursday morning, 1st August 2024, joining a nationwide protest that swept across major cities and the Federal Capital Territory over hardship and high cost of living.
The protesters, armed with placards and banners, decried the country’s worsening conditions, including soaring inflation, poor governance, and insecurity in the protests tagged, #EndBadGovernance
organized by the Take It Back Movement (TIB) and other civil society groups.
In a nationwide broadcast, President Tinubu said “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.”
The President noted that his government was taking deep-measured policy actions geared towards improving the lives of the citizens but needed time to mature.
President warned, “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.”
The President therefore directed security forces to continue to do their best to ensure that there is absolute protection of lives and property as guaranteed by the constitution.
He said, “Our law enforcement agencies should continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.
“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.”
President further explained that a lot of work has gone into stabilising the nation’s economy and as leader of the country, he must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.
