Public Figure, Adamu Garba, Incites Ethnic Violence and More on Endsars Protests

Public Figure, Adamu Garba, Incites Ethnic Violence 

Adam Garba in a viral tweet today told Northern youth to resist EndSars protesters because according to him, they are distracting the North and plan to overthrow the Buhari Government.  He also said that Northerners (whether Christian or Muslim) should put their weight behind the president whether he was performing his duties or not. 

The tweet was flagged by many as inciting violence and inappropriate in times like this when tempers are high. 

Video: 

Nnamdi Kanu Expresses Disgust About Waning Energy for EndSars Protests

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is the leader of the Igbo group IPOB.The IPOB leader condemned the waning energy for EndSars protests. Asking his people why they had decided to give in to thugs and hide in their homes. He also speculated that the United Kingdom might be partnering with the Nigerian government to support SARS. Here is a letter he procured:

He also made statements like these on Twitter from @MaziNnamdiKanu

“It’s shocking that Southern Nigerians are tolerating a Northern Muslim @NGRPresident using the Army to KILL unarmed Southern #EndSARS protesters in Lagos, a Southern soil? Would a Southern Christian President ever contemplate killing unarmed Northern Muslim protesters in KANO?”

People have flagged these comments as inciting ethnic violence.

Covid-19 Palliatives Found Hidden in Warehouse in Lagos

Boarded up Covid-19 palliatives were found by hoodlums in a warehouse belonging to the Oba of Lagos. The hoodlums proceeded to cart away the bags of rice, bags of sugar, and noodles. After the looting, Nigerians expressed disappointment at what they perceived was a great show of wickedness by the Oba since people were starving during the Covid-19 months. In an interview, the Oba through his team said that the palliatives were sent to him in September. He also said that he had been planning to share the palliatives but couldn’t, because of the protests. 

President Buhari Addresses Nigerians on the EndSars Protests

President Buhari addressed Nigerians on Thursday, October 22nd. His speech touched on various issues affecting the country. Here are the parts of speech that talk about the EndSars protests:

“Fellow Nigerians,

It has become necessary for me to address you, haven heard from many concerned Nigerians and haven concluded a meeting with all the Security Chiefs, I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine, and well-intended protest of some of our youths in parts of the country, against the excesses of some members of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS. The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments, but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to respect the rights of other citizens, and the necessity to operate within the law.

As a democratic government, we listened to, and carefully evaluated the five-point demands of the protesters. And, having accepted them, we immediately scrapped SARS and put measures in place to address the other demands of our youth. 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.

Sadly, the promptness with which we have acted seemed to have been misconstrued as a sign of weakness and twisted by some for their selfish unpatriotic interests. The result of this is clear to all observers: human lives have been lost; acts of sexual violence have been reported; two major correctional facilities were attacked and convicts freed; public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalized; the sanctity of the Palace of a peace-maker, the Oba of Lagos has been violated. So-called protesters have invaded an International Airport and in the process disrupted the travel plans of fellow Nigerians and our visitors.

All these, executed in the name of the ENDSARS protests. 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 expressions of grievance of the youth of our country. The spreading of deliberate falsehood and misinformation through the social media in particular, that this government is oblivious to the pains and plight of its citizens, is a ploy to mislead the unwary within and outside Nigeria into unfair judgment and disruptive behavior.

On the contrary, both our deeds and words have shown how committed this administration has been to the well being and welfare of citizens, even with the steadily dwindling revenues, and the added responsibilities and restrictions due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.

For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated. I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage the government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.

And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law-abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect.”

Nigerians have reacted badly to this speech, saying that the president seems to be threatening them with violence if they protest for their basic human rights. They also commented on his exclusion of the Lekki massacre from this speech. The hashtag #Itisfinished is also trending on Twitter as most Nigerians seem to have lost hope for the country and are begging for opportunities to leave.