As the #EndBadGovernance protests entered their second day on August 2, 2024, Human Rights Lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN has called for an immediate suspension of the demonstrations.
On the eve of the protests, Adegboruwa had urged organisers to shorten the planned 10-day protest to just one day, reflecting his concerns about potential escalation.
Adegboruwa in a statement sent to TheScrutiny, highlighted that while the protests were intended to be peaceful, they had been compromised by infiltrators and disruptive elements.
“Though the intention of the organisers was to achieve peaceful and well-coordinated protests, it would seem that fifth columnists and some angry persons infiltrated the ranks of the protesters to derail their laudable mission,” he said.
Adegboruwa has called for protesters to withdraw immediately and indefinitely.
“I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, in order to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government,” he urged.
He also expressed his condolences to the families affected by the violence. “I hereby express my sincere condolences to the employers and families of the security personnel and also to the protesters, praying to God to comfort them and to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses,” Adegboruwa added.
Additionally, Adegboruwa has called on President Bola Tinubu to address the situation directly and engage with the protesters through their representatives.
“I therefore call upon President Bola Tinubu to directly address the nation and then engage the protesters, through their representatives. Thereafter, the government should set up a Committee comprising men and women of integrity to meet with the protesters to address the issues that they have raised,” he said.
He concluded by urging all parties to embrace dialogue to resolve the issues and prevent further casualties.
“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties. The organisers of the protests and their representatives should embrace dialogue with the government.”
Adegboruwa also commended those who participated in the protests and those who showed solidarity through peaceful civil disobedience.
“No leader should ever take the people for granted. In the peculiar circumstance of the hunger and hardship being experienced by our people across the land, the protests were more than justified. God bless Nigeria,” he concluded.
