In the Face of Increasing Living Expenses, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu Demands a Stop to Protests
There has been a lot of carnage during the last three days of protests in Nigeria, and President Bola Tinubu has made a sincere plea for an end to it all. Protests sparked by a worsening cost of living issue have resulted in seven fatalities and the detention of more than 700 others. This is the first incident of the so-called “10 planned days of rage.”
Recognizing the anguish and dissatisfaction felt by the younger generation, President Tinubu spoke to the country in a nationally broadcast speech. In particular, he stressed that they had been heard. In spite of this, he stood by his economic reforms, the ones that many demonstrators say are to blame for the worsening situation since he assumed office in May 2023. As a result of these changes, which include decoupling the local currency from the dollar and doing away with a gasoline subsidy, prices have soared.
The president called for an end to the violence so that people could talk after pointing out that looters had taken advantage of some demonstrations. On the other hand, he made no mention of turning around his policy. Protests in Kenya, where the government was forced to drop plans to raise taxes due to public pressure, served as an inspiration for the online demonstrations that took place under the hashtag #EndBadGovernance.
President Tinubu conveyed tragic deaths and damage to public buildings in four northern states. Based on reports of violence by “hoodlums,” the Borno, Jigawa, Kano, and Yobe states have all been ordered to adhere to 24-hour curfews. The president emphasized that the looting of stores and supermarkets belies the protest organizers’ claims.
On the first day of the protests, the biggest crowds occurred in Kano City. Police used tear gas and live bullets to disperse the thousands of demonstrators, and there were reports of looting as well. Public order, President Tinubu said, must be preserved, and the government will not stand idly by while a handful of people with political ambitions try to bring the country to its knees.
At least ten hunger protestors have died, and Amnesty International has demanded that the governor of Kano form an impartial judicial committee to determine what happened. The death toll across the country is thirteen. Several Kano protesters disobeyed the lockdown orders, and among them were several who waved Russian flags and asked President Vladimir Putin for help. Protesters have taken to social media to voice their disapproval, with some even going so far as to change their profile pictures to the Russian flag and call on Russia for help.
Protesters in Abuja, the capital city, have been trying to march from a designated stadium to the city center for three days in a row. Still, security personnel have once again resorted to tear gas. In Lagos and several sections of Abuja, businesses that had shut down during the first protests started reopening again, although flights from Lagos to Kano have been canceled indefinitely.
Nobody knows how President Tinubu’s speech will have affected the ire of young Nigerians. By calling for additional demonstrators to fly Russian flags, a youth leader in Kaduna signaled ongoing resistance. Protests will continue until demands are fulfilled, according to Abiodun Sanusi, chairman of the Take It Back Nigeria campaign, who also demanded a public meeting between the president and protesters.
Mr. Sanusi stated his disapproval of the defense chief’s threat to engage militarily in the event of continued violence, stating that the only appropriate police presence is a nonviolent one. The authorities have refuted claims that police used excessive force during the protests.
Using Russian flags could be risky and help disruptive elements achieve their goals, according to respected Nigerian security expert Bulama Bukarti. Protesters should be cautious of manipulation, he said.
In light of the recent coups in West African nations, Nigeria is understandably worried about the trend of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger seeking security support from Russia.
In summary
As events unfold in Nigeria, they show how the people are struggling economically, which is leading to social upheaval. It is difficult to strike a balance between public opinion and reform, as President Tinubu’s attempts to quell the protests and defend economic policies demonstrate. How the government reacts and what the demonstrators do will determine Nigeria’s future as the country faces these difficult times.
