Hardship: Halt Protest, Let’s Dialogue: Tinubu Begs Nigerians

• He implored Nigerians protesting against his administration to immediately shelve the demonstrations and come forward for dialogue

President Bola Tinubu has bemoaned the loss of lives and destruction of properties amid the ongoing nationwide protest.

Speaking on Sunday during a nationwide broadcast, Tinubu said his government will not fold its hands and allow the nation to be plunged into anarchy.

He implored Nigerians protesting against his administration to immediately shelve the demonstrations and come forward for dialogue.

The President, who commiserated with those that lost their lives and their families, added that it was his duty to ensure public order.

He also read the riot act to those who have used the protest to push ethnoreligious agenda by threatening other tribe.

He said, “As President of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.

“Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity.

“Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation.

“To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build.” He said.

President Tinubu also said he is especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, saying that, “the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country.

“The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them.”