ECOWAS Urges Protesters to Respond to Tinubu’s Dialogue Call
The West African bloc ECOWAS has urged #EndBadGovernance protesters in Nigeria to respond to President Bola Tinubu’s plea for dialogue.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission issued a statement on Monday, saying it “deeply regrets reports of violence during the protests and the unfortunate death of some protesters, as well as alleged looting and destruction of public and private properties.”
“The Commission extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and sympathises with the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria over the losses.”
The regional bloc recognised citizens’ right to peaceful protests, as provided by the 2001 ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance and embodied in the 1999 Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution, as amended.
The Commission welcomes H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s State of the Nation address on August 4, 2024, and urges protesters and all stakeholders to heed the President’s call for inclusive dialogue to resolve all grievances and to maintain peace and security in Nigeria and the ECOWAS region as a whole.”
Protesters’ demands
On Sunday, Tinubu addressed stubborn youngsters who have taken to the streets since Thursday to show their unhappiness with the country’s ailing economy and the hardships that come with it.
The President asked the young demonstrators to stop their protests and engage in conversation, but the protesters argued that the ex-Lagos governor, who entered office in May 2023, had not addressed their concerns.
Prices for food and essential goods have skyrocketed in recent months, as Nigerians grapple with one of the country’s highest inflation rates and economic crises, triggered by the government’s dual policies of removing petrol subsidies and unifying forex windows.
Propagated on social media, the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests over economic hardship reached their third day on Saturday, with resilient youngsters urging that Tinubu accept their demands.
Some of the demonstrators’ demands include the return of gasoline subsidies and the FX regime. They also want the government to address food insecurity, unemployment, and wasteful spending by those in authority.
Other demands include a reduction in the President’s cabinet and overall expense of governance, immediate reforms of the election umpire INEC and the anti-graft agency EFCC, and renewed energy in the fight against corrupt politicians.
The protests went astray in Kano, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and other states, with rampaging hoodlums taking advantage of the situation and burning vehicles, looting warehouses, and private establishments. Police reported seven people died in situations related to the protests, but denied that security agents murdered any of the victims.
Police were spotted using tear gas to disperse protesters, despite the fact that civil society organisations condemned the police action.
