National leader of the All Progressives Congress appeared to be on bended knees Monday night pleading with #EndSARS campaigners to call off their protest.
“YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT. GOVERNMENT HAS MADE ITS COMMITMENT TO YOU. PLEASE, PLEASE AND PLEASE, CALL OFF THE PROTESTS. GIVE GOVERNMENT A CHANCE TO IMPLEMENT YOUR DEMANDS. GOD BLESS YOU”, he pleaded.
In a statement signed by him, Tinubu however, showed he was not in tune with the demands of the campaigners, which have metamorphosed from a five-point police reforms, to a seven-point agenda for a major overhaul of the country.
While applauding the initial narrow focus of the protests and the Buhari administration response by disbanding FSARS, Tinubu urged the protesters not to fritter away the gains by stubbornly insisting on more protests, thus creating anarchy.
“It is only fair that government must be given the chance to implement the reforms demanded by the protesters. This can certainly not be done instantaneously by the waving of a magic wand,” Tinubu pleaded.
“If government had not implemented promised reforms in the past, the swiftness with which it has responded to the demands of the protesters this time around shows that that there is a positive change by government both of attitude and of a new sense of urgency.
“The protesters have made considerable gains within a very short period. But they should also be careful not to fritter away such gains due to lack of moderation and strategic thinking.
“For instance, it is unfortunate that hoodlums, thugs and assorted criminals have seized on the protests to perpetrate violence, disrupt civil life and harass, intimidate and assault innocent persons going about their lawful business.”
Tinubu’s statement is laced with some subtle warning that government may wield the big stick if protesters stretched their objective beyond the earlier goals of police reforms, and now aim to cause regime change.
“If they give the impression that that is their goal, then any government will necessarily have to act with the requisite decisiveness and force to restore law and order and preserve constitutional rule.
“The vigour and vibrancy of the protests are an indication of the growing strength of the democratic culture in Nigeria. It is a demonstration of the beauty of democracy and its promotion and protection of people’s power.
“However, the protesters must be careful not to set the stage for the erosion or destruction of the same democratic process that gives them the freedom and right to protest in the first place.
“Their democratic right to protest must not be exercised in such a way that impedes the democratic right of other citizens to freedom of movement, expression and the liberty to pursue their livelihoods”.
