Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday addressed citizens in a televised broadcast 48 hours after soldiers opened fire on protesters at Lekki tollgate in Lagos state.
At least twelve people were killed in Tuesday’s incident which sparked outrage globally.
President Buhari said he wasn’t happy with the loss of lives noting that “I am indeed deeply pained that innocent lives have been lost.
These tragedies are uncalled for and unnecessary. Certainly, there is no way whatsoever to connect these bad acts to legitimate expression of grievance of the youth of our country.”
The president however said “on approving the termination of SARS, I already made it clear that it was in line with our commitment to the implementation of extensive Police reforms.”
But Buhari said “some Nigerians mistook as weakness, the swift response of his regime to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.”
He also lashed out at the international community “many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.”
To our neighbours in particular, and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing development in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position…
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) October 22, 2020
On social media though it appears many Nigerians were not impressed with the tone of the President and the message he gave.
To be honest it would have been better if Buhari didn’t address Nigeria. It clearly showed he has no concern whatsoever for our plight. We will keep fighting n make sure the labour of those who died protesting will not be in vain
— Dr Toolz #EndSWAT (@toolzdeyforyou) October 22, 2020
Buhari’s speech in a nutshell:
Go back to your normal lives let the police keep killing you. Dare to Protest again and the army will kill you pic.twitter.com/WNYsojprgO
— QUEEN MOTHER ?✨ (@rutie_xx) October 22, 2020
General @MBuhari’s Broadcast Was The Most Useless Broadcast Ever. This is The Broadcast He Should Have Given: Violence May Achieve Temporary Victory, But Can’t Deliver Permanent Breakthrough#EndSARS https://t.co/nZSkMTVD7P
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) October 22, 2020
His Excellency @MBuhari gave a speech that left everyone speechless!
— THE OZOLUA (@WaleOzolua) October 22, 2020
Not a word from Buhari @MBuhari about #EndSars protesters killed. Not a word about citizens killed in Zamfara.
You still have doubt that this man cares for no one and everyone is feeling the effect of his incompetence?#EndSars #SecureNorth— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) October 22, 2020
Buhari has zero regards for human life. No empathy for poeple who died in Lekki and Zamfara. Remind me of when poeple are being killed in Kaduna, this heartless man did nothing about it only for me to see a tweet from him wishing trump quick recovery. God will judge you!!!
— /\/\|) ? (@MDee_01) October 22, 2020
Source: Africafeeds.com
