Former Nigerian heads of state have advised President Muhammadu Buhari to engage in further conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country to ensure the issues raised by youths are properly addressed.
They shared this opinion at a virtual meeting on Friday with Buhari on the #EndSARS protest and various happenings resulting from the demonstration.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, who disclosed the details of the meeting in a statement;
President Buhari noted the genuine and well-intended #EndSARS protest of youths in parts of the country against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) but said the protest was hijacked and misdirected and that the Federal Government would not fold its arms and allow miscreants and criminals continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism.
The President also recounted the initial concessions made by his administration on the demands of youths condemning the excesses of some members of the SARS.
The former heads of state present – who included; General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Abulsalami Abubakar (rtd), and Dr Goodluck Jonathan; condoled with the bereaved families of civilians and security operatives who lost their lives to the violence recorded in parts of the country.
They also stressed the importance of respecting the fundamental rights of citizens, including peaceful protest as enshrined in the Constitution.
The elder statesmen further condemned the divisive and inciting pronouncements of separatists, stressing that such acts should be stopped.
They, however, commended the actions taken by state governors to address the demands of #EndSARS protesters and their efforts to check the excesses of those who perpetrated violent acts and conduct while calling on youths to pursue peaceful means in seeking redress through engagement with the government.
Discussions on generation of employment and economic growth were also tabled at the meeting.
