Protests: We won’t allow people with political agenda tear Nigeria apart – Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu vowed on Sunday morning that his government would not allow a small group with a political agenda to tear the nation apart.

In a nationwide broadcast addressing the ongoing national hunger protest, Tinubu emphasized his duty as president to maintain public order.

His words, “In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart.

“Under the circumstances, I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity. Nigeria requires all hands on deck and needs us all – regardless of age, party, tribe, religion or other divides, to work together in reshaping our destiny as a nation.

“To those who have taken undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you. There is no place for ethnic bigotry or such threats in the Nigeria we seek to build,” he said.

As he addressed the nation, Tinubu said he was doing it with a heavy heart and a sense of responsibility, aware of the turmoil and violent protests unleashed in some of the states.

“Notably among the protesters were young Nigerians who desired a better and more progressive country where their dreams, hopes, and personal aspirations would be fulfilled.

“I am especially pained by the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country.

“The destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them. I commiserate with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests. We must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction,” he stated.

According to the president, the nation’s democracy progressed when the constitutional rights of every Nigerian were respected and protected, urging the law enforcement agencies to continue to ensure the full protection of lives and properties of innocent citizens in a responsible manner.

The president added that his vision for the country was one of a just and prosperous nation where each person might enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance could provide.

Tinubu lamented that for decades, the nation’s economy had remained anaemic and taken a dip because of many misalignments that had stunted its growth.

“Just over a year ago, our dear country, Nigeria, reached a point where we couldn’t afford to continue the use of temporary solutions to solve long-term problems for the sake of now and our unborn generations. I therefore took the painful yet necessary decision to remove fuel subsidies and abolish multiple foreign exchange systems which had constituted a noose around the economic jugular of our Nation and impeded our economic development and progress.

“These actions blocked the greed and the profits that smugglers and rent-seekers made. They also blocked the undue subsidies we had extended to our neighbouring countries to the detriment of our people, rendering our economy prostrate.

“These decisions I made were necessary if we must reverse the decades of economic mismanagement that didn’t serve us well. Yes, I agree, the buck stops on my table. But I can assure you that I am focused fully on delivering governance to the people – good governance for that matter,” he stated.

Tinubu told Nigerians, especially the youths that he had heard them loud and clear, understood the pain and frustration that drove these protests, saying “I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.

“But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity.”

He said the task before his government was a collective one, and that he was leading the charge as President as a lot of work had gone into stabilizing the economy, as he must stay focused on ensuring that the benefits reach every single Nigerian as promised.

“My administration is working very hard to improve and expand our national infrastructure and create more opportunities for our young people.

“Let nobody misinform and mis-educate you about your country or tell you that your government does not care about you. Although there have been many dashed hopes in the past, we are in a new era of Renewed Hope. We are working hard for you, and the results will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy,” he added.