The President, Muhammadu
Buhari , on Thursday, claimed that his regime’s decision to accept the
demands by youths who protested against the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery
Squad of the Nigeria Police Force emboldened them to become violent.
His Special Adviser on Media and
Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement, quoted the President as speaking
during a virtual meeting he had with former Nigerian leaders.
The statement was titled, ‘How
EndSARS protest was hijacked; misdirected, President Buhari tells former Heads
of State.’
Adesina quoted the President as
saying, “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.”
The presidential aide further
quoted Buhari as expressing concern that in the mayhem that ensued, many lives
have been lost, a number of public and private properties completely destroyed
or vandalised.
He said the President 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.”
Adesina further said Buhari told
his predecessors that it is unfortunate that the initial genuine and
well-intended protest of the youths was hijacked and misdirected.
He said Buhari reiterated that the
government will not fold its arms and allow miscreants and criminals continue
to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country.
He recalled that the youth had
demanded that the squad be disbanded, and further articulated the additional
demands, including: “The immediate release of all arrested protesters; justice
for deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their
families.
“Setting up an independent body
to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of Police misconduct
within 10 days; psychological evaluation and re-training of all disbanded SARS
officers before they can be re-deployed; and increase in Police salary.”
He said 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 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.”
The statement listed living past
Nigerian leaders that attended the meeting to include Former President
Obasanjo; General Yakubu Gowon (retd.); General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.);
Chief Ernest Shonekan; General Abulsalami Abubakar (retd.); and former
President Goodluck Jonathan.
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