youths in parts of the country against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad
(SARS) was hijacked and misdirected, President Muhammadu Buhari told
former Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria, Friday in Abuja.
In a virtual meeting with the former leaders, President Buhari
reiterated that the Government will not fold its arms and allow
miscreants and criminals to continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism
in the country.
At the meeting were all living past leaders, including Gen. Yakubu
Gowon, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida,
Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Abulsalami Abubakar, and former President
Goodluck Jonathan.
The President recounted the initial concessions made by his
administration on the demands of youths protesting against the excesses
of some members of the SARS.
He recalled that the youths 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.”
The President declared: ”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.”
President Buhari expressed concern that in the mayhem that ensued, many
lives have been lost, a number of public and private properties
completely destroyed or vandalized.
Reiterating his pledge to Nigerians from the nationwide broadcast
Thursday, the President reaffirmed:
”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.”
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.”
Each of the former leaders commended President 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.
”I commend the speech of last night. The nation had been waiting. You
made points that I believe need to be commended. Peaceful demonstration
is part of democratic practice. The demands of the genuine protesters
were accepted, and you are working on implementation. We commend you,”
former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said.
The former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation
of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign
investments were critical to checking youth restiveness.
They also expressed their condolences to the bereaved families of
civilians, policemen and soldiers killed as a result of the violent
protest, and reaffirmed the commitment to respect the fundamental rights
of citizens, including for peaceful protest as enshrined in the
Constitution.
The former Heads of State also condemned the divisive and inciting
pronouncements of separatists and were of the opinion that such acts
should be stopped.
Equally, the former leaders commended the actions taken by governors to
address the demands of the ENDSARS protesters and their efforts to check
the excesses of those who perpetrated violent acts and conduct.
Finally, they called on youth to pursue peaceful means, in seeking
redress through engagement with Government and encouraged further
conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 23, 2020