Nigerian President Bola Tinubu Appeals for End to Protests Amid “Bloodshed”
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has made a heartfelt appeal for protests to come to an end after three days of demonstrations resulted in “bloodshed” across the country. The protests were sparked by a deepening cost of living crisis that has left many Nigerians struggling to make ends meet.
During the protests, at least seven people lost their lives and over 700 individuals were arrested as Nigerians took to the streets for the first of 10 planned “days of rage.” President Tinubu, in a televised address, acknowledged the pain and frustration of the youth, stating, “My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear.”
The president defended his economic reforms, which have been blamed for the hardships faced by many since he took office in May 2023. These reforms include the removal of a petrol subsidy and ending the peg of the local currency to the dollar. While he expressed understanding for the protesters’ grievances, President Tinubu did not indicate any intention to reverse these policies.
The protests, organized through social media using the hashtag #EndBadGovernance, were inspired by the successful demonstrations in Kenya that led to the government there scrapping plans to increase taxes. However, President Tinubu lamented that the protests had been hijacked by looters in some areas, leading to violence and destruction of public facilities.
Despite the president’s plea for an end to the protests, demonstrators remain steadfast in their demands. Abiodun Sanusi from the Take It Back Nigeria movement stated, “We can’t leave the streets until our demands are met.” He called on the president to engage in dialogue with the protesters in a public and transparent manner.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the protests, Amnesty International has called for an independent inquiry into the deaths of protesters in Kano. The police have denied allegations of using excessive force during the demonstrations.
The situation in Nigeria remains tense, with curfews in place in several states and ongoing unrest in the capital, Abuja. It is unclear if President Tinubu’s address will be enough to quell the anger of the protesters, who are demanding accountability and change from the government.
