Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has made a public appeal to Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure the safety of Nigerian youths participating in tomorrow’s protest against hunger and the struggling economy.
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In a statement released to Vanguard on Wednesday, Adegboruwa emphasized that security forces must avoid using violence against protesters, stressing that “protesters are our children and our own citizens. They certainly do not deserve bullets and crackdowns.”
Adegboruwa also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider the policies of oil subsidy removal and currency devaluation, which he argues have exacerbated the economic crisis in Nigeria.
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In his statement, Adegboruwa praised the organizers of the Hunger and End Bad Governance Protests for their dedication and patriotism.
He acknowledged the significant efforts put into organizing the protests and criticized the administration’s response, saying, “Since the announcement of the protests, the administration of President Tinubu has become unduly jittery, pandering to primordial ethnic and religious sentiments, to save face.”
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Adegboruwa pointed out the severe food inflation affecting Nigerians, with staples like yam, gaari, rice, and beans becoming unaffordable for many.
He criticized the government’s economic policies, stating, “The economic policies of the Tinubu administration are suffocating the people out of their existence.”
Appeals:
To the President
Adegboruwa urged President Tinubu to address the economic hardships by reversing the oil subsidy removal and currency devaluation policies.
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He highlighted the need to curtail government wastage and criticized lavish expenditures such as purchasing a new jet for the President and renovating the Vice-President’s residence for ₦21 billion while ordinary Nigerians suffer.
He called for an end to bad governance, including the distribution of significant funds for religious pilgrimages while providing minimal support to students through loans.
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To Security and Law Enforcement Agencies
Adegboruwa’s second appeal was directed at security agencies. He emphasized the legal right to peaceful protest and urged the police to protect unarmed civilians. He insisted that no bullets should be fired, no arbitrary arrests should be made, and the military should not be deployed to handle the protest.
“The protesters are our children and our own citizens. They certainly do not deserve bullets and crackdowns,” he stated.
To the Protesters:
Adegboruwa also addressed the protesters, acknowledging the impact of their actions and the government’s response. He encouraged them to keep the protests orderly and peaceful, and to adhere to the planned locations for their demonstrations. He suggested limiting the protests to one or, at most, three days to facilitate dialogue with the government.
He expressed his support for the protesters, offering to join in further engagements with the government to address their demands. “I have no doubt that you have the capacity to prosecute the protests as intended and that you have the support and prayers of the majority of our people, in all your actions. But let us give room for more dialogue,” he added.
The Need for More Engagements:
Adegboruwa concluded by stressing the importance of continued dialogue with the government. He called on the protest organizers to form teams to engage with various government agents for immediate action on their concerns.
“God bless you all,” Adegboruwa said in his closing remarks, highlighting his appeals for peace, progress, and tranquility in Nigeria.
