According to report reaching OYOGist.com, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered his ministers to return to their home states to defuse the tensions created by the #ENDSARS protests and the ensuing anarchy.
The ministers are planning a meeting with stakeholders to explain the Federal Government’s efforts to meet the needs of the youths.
Water Minister Sulaiman Adamu, who confirmed the development during a courtesy visit to Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State in Dutse, said that cabinet members were instructed “to travel to our states to seek the support of political, traditional, religious and community leaders against the violence emanating from the #EndSARS protests.
Adamu said he was in the state to meet with the leaders to “promote tolerance, peace and stability at this critical time and to hear from them and inform them (Buhari) immediately.
He acknowledged that the #ENDSARS protests had got off to a good start and were in line with the Nigerian constitution, only to be abducted along the line of those who violated the rights of other citizens, killed innocent people, plundered and participated in other criminal acts.
He said: “President Muhammad Buhari is asking all other political leaders of the state for the support of all other political leaders of the state in order to make the people of the state properly aware of the need to dispel any rumours that amount to creating discord among Nigerians and also to plunging the nation into crisis”.
Niger Delta Affairs Minister Godswill Akpabio, who is on a similar mission to Akwa Ibom, landed in Uyo on Saturday, accompanied by other state officials, including Senator Ita Enang, the President’s Senior Special Advisor on Niger Delta Affairs.
He urged the state’s youth to commit themselves to peace, saying that President Buhari had pledged to meet their demands for police reform.
Mr Akpabio said that the government was doing much to create jobs and develop the main economic infrastructure in the Niger Delta State and the region.
He called on the state’s youth to make use of the GF’s social and economic intervention programmes for employment, adding that the Buhari government is committed to fighting poverty and unemployment in the country.
Akpabio said that the protest by EndSARS was able to deter existing and expected investors with the negative economic impact on the state and the region.
He praised Governor Udom Emmanuel and other governors for setting up a judicial commission of enquiry to address the concerns of the victims of the SARS brutality, adding that the federal government was ready to work with the governors to bring justice to the victims.
The Minister urged all those who lost their property in Thursday’s massacre to address their questions to the judicial enquiry commission.
Senator Ita Enang also condemned the wanton destruction of life and property by the perpetrators under the guise of EndSARS.
Remember that yesterday Rochas Okorocha, a legislator representing Imo West in the Senate, said that the #EndSARS agitation was a reaction to decades of bad behaviour in the country and stressed that it went beyond calls to end police cruelty.
Okorocha, the former governor of Imo, pointed out that the week-long protests, which have left more than 69 victims, serve as a real wake-up call for the political elite to be held accountable and face up to their responsibilities.
In his speech to reporters in Abuja today, the legislator said: “What began a few days ago as a peaceful protest has turned into the loss of many souls and the burning of property with people living in fear.”
“This situation is very unfortunate and very regrettable. I would like to express my solidarity with those who have lost loved ones to the protests.”
“However, I would like to say that this is a call from the youth of this country to the leaders of this nation.”
“It is a sign that we, the elite, have been selfish in our handling of the affairs of this country. There has been a history of unjust leadership for a long time.”
“The #EndSARS protest is not only against the police, but is a disappointment about the economic problems of a nation where we have unemployment and poverty.”
