Calls on the Federal Government to release those still detained over the #EndBadGovernance protests of August 1-10 are gaining increasing momentum, with astute businessman and politician, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, opposing the continued detentions.
Oguntoyinbo spoke on the heels of the calls by Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Transparency International (TI), Arewa Youths, Femi Falana and other civil society organisations for the detained protesters’ immediate release.
Ajadi lamented that since the coming into office of the current government, things had moved from bad to worse, and that the least the Nigerian populace could do was organise themselves and express dissatisfaction.
Ajadi stated: “For me, that is simply what the #EndBadGovernance protests simply did.
“Who is in this country does not know that things are challenging. It is not that the country itself is broke; it is simply a question of mismanagement of resources.
“If the government could, despite all that is going on, think and budget on a new presidential jet as we are made to understand, why can’t it immediately rise to the occasion of mitigating the suffering of those it is constitutionally responsible for? That is part of the reason for the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“I also feel the impact of the bad policies of the government, being an entrepreneur. I have workers and I know and feel their bad feelings.
“I also associate in politics at different levels. And you cannot pretend when you see obviously that the people around you are not finding things easy in the economy.
“It is for the above reason that I wholeheartedly reiterate my call on the President, not only to ensure an expedited release of those he is still holding, but come up with a programme and policy of reducing hunger and hardship in the country.
“This is the least we could ask and hope for in a county so blessed.”
Ajadi stressed that the President himself had before now benefited from people’s protests and should not now work against it.
He wondered how someone who rose to societal relevance through freely expressing himself now turned round to hinder others from doing the same.
Archbishop Onaiyekan had based his call on the point that unarmed protesters were not the cause of Nigeria’s problems: “It is not unarmed protesters who are the cause of our problems. Our President told us he is ready to dialogue with all those who are unhappy, but he needs to take the initiative now. Is this how to ask for dialogue? There is need to completely change our attitude. The people (protesters) were just ordinary young people who are hungry.
