A senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged the youths to suspend the ongoing #EndbadGovernance nationwide protest.
The lawyer, through a statement on Friday, said the objective of the protest was defeated when some “sponsored agents” hijacked the demonstration.
Adegboruwa asked the youths to consider dialogue with the government to avoid further losses.
“I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, in order to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government,” the statement reads.
“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties.
“The organisers of the protests and their representatives should embrace dialogue with the government.
“The mass protests declared against hunger and bad governance entered its second day today, August 2, 2024.
“Though the intention of the organizers was to achieve peaceful and well-coordinated protests, it would seem that fifth columnists and some angry persons infiltrated the ranks of the protesters to derail their laudable mission.”
The lawyer also praised the protesters in some states who worked with security agents to ensure a peaceful protest.
“In various locations in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt, Ibadan, Benin City, etc., the protesters have been largely peaceful and orderly,” he said.
“I commend the protesters for their peaceful conduct and respect for law and order. In some locations, the protesters teamed up with the security forces to observe the Friday Jumat service at the venue of the protests.”
Adegboruwa then called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately address the nation and attend to the requests of Nigerians.
“I therefore call upon President Bola Tinubu to directly address the nation and then engage the protesters through their representatives,” he added.
“Thereafter, the government should set up a committee comprising men and women of integrity to meet with the protesters to address the issues that they have raised.
“No leader should ever take the people for granted. In the peculiar circumstance of the hunger and hardship being experienced by our people across the land, the protests were more than justified.”