As the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests enter their second day, prominent human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged the youth to suspend the demonstrations and seek dialogue with the government.
In a statement issued on Friday, Adegboruwa expressed concern over the protests’ trajectory.
“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 appealed to protesters to “withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government.”
He highlighted the need to avoid further losses and casualties, noting that the protests had been “hijacked by sponsored agents.”
The lawyer, affiliated with the Take It Back Movement, which helped organize the protests, lamented the deaths and losses during the demonstrations.
“I express my sincere condolences to the employers and families of the security personnel and also to the protesters,” he said, offering prayers for those affected.
Ahead of the protests, Adegboruwa had recommended shortening the planned 10-day action to just one day and urged President Bola Tinubu to directly address the nation and engage with the protesters through their representatives. He proposed that a committee of reputable individuals be established to address the protesters’ demands.
The nationwide protests, which began on August 1, 2024, have seen significant tension and clashes in various states.
In Abuja, demonstrators were dispersed with tear gas as they marched towards the Eagle Square.
The protests, initially aimed at addressing economic hardship, turned violent with some hoodlums looting public and private properties.
In response to the unrest, several state governments, including those of Kano, Borno, Yobe, Katsina, Nasarawa, and Jigawa, have imposed curfews in volatile areas.
Reports of deaths and injuries have been confirmed, with Amnesty International and the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun citing violence against security personnel.
The protests, which have gained momentum on social media, are set to continue until August 10. Protesters are demanding the restoration of petrol subsidies, reforms to the electoral and anti-graft agencies, and action on food shortages, unemployment, and government waste.