President Buhari’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has said that former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo commended the Thursday night speech of President Muhammadu Buhari to the nation.
Obasanjo reportedly made the commendation during meeting of former Heads of State and Presidents of Nigeria, with Buhari on Friday in Abuja.
According to Adesina, each of the former leaders commended President Buhari for steps taken so far to restore calm and order to the country and also applauded the presidential broadcast of Thursday as detailed and soothing to the country.
He quoted Obasanjo to have said: “I commend the speech of last night. The nation had been waiting. You made points that I believe need to be commended. Peaceful demonstration is part of democratic practice. The demands of the genuine protesters were accepted, and you are working on implementation. We commend you.”
Buhari’s spokesperson also said that the former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign investments were critical to checking youth restiveness.
They also expressed their condolences to the bereaved families of civilians, policemen and soldiers killed as a result of the violent protest, and reaffirmed the commitment to respect the fundamental rights of citizens, including for peaceful protest as enshrined in the Constitution.
The former Heads of State also condemned the divisive and inciting pronouncements of separatists, and were of the opinion that such acts should be stopped.
According to the BBC, Buhari was quoted to have admitted that at least 69 people consisting 51 civilians, 11 police officers and seven soldiers were killed during the #EndSARS protests across the country.
Former Nigerian leaders present at the meeting were, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, President Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Abulsalami Abubakar, and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
You recall that many Nigerians including former president Olusegun Obasanjo had called on Buhari to address the nation on the #EndSARS protest in the light of shootings and violent demonstration that followed.
However, the president’s speech did not go down well with many Nigerians and political stakeholders who frown at it, particularly as it was silent on the Lekki killings by officers of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday night. They have described the speech empty and one that fall s short of expectation toward permanent solution to the #EndSARS agitations.
