By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As Nigeria begins to withness a spring of youths Protest to end police brutality and societal grievances across the country, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, has called on President Muhammad Buhari to address the nation on reforms and put governance structures in place before it is too late.
In a statement signed by Country Director of AAN, Ene Obi on the current #EndPoliceBrutality protests and agitations by citizens, it noted that the protests has moved from being a social media campaign to a peaceful protest by Nigerians across the globe in the last 13 days with clear demands on the abolition of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad accused of unlawful arrests, torture and extra- judicial killings.
The statement read, ” ActionAid Nigeria therefore calls on President Muhammad Buhari to fully address the nation in a national broadcast as a father, leader and the President of Nigeria with the mandate of the people to manage the affairs of the country to give cut- clear responses to the demands if the protesters before it is too late.
“Nigerians anticipate clear plans, timelines and commitments which will be in a form of pact with the citizens”, adding that this would give the President the opportunity to write his name in the sands of time by starting the process of transforming the country especially by responding to the demands of the citizens.
So far the protests is about young people airing their grievances on their rights violations and the need for an overhaul of the country’s security and governance structure.
ActionAid Nigeria also called on security agencies to keep securing the streets to get unscrupulous elements with illegitimate interests off the peaceful protests, while respecting the rights of peaceful protesters.
We applaud the resolve of Nigerian youths leading the revival across the country and the resolute to hold government to account. However, it is pertinent that decorum is maintained while resisting any calculated attempts by unknown elements to disrupt, the just cause for total reformation of our country, Nigeria, the statement read.
