President Tinubu warns against ethnic bigotry under guise of protest

Kunle Sanni 

President Bola Tinubu has issued a stern warning to individuals exploiting the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests to promote ethnic bigotry and divisive rethorics to intimidate fellow citizens. 

In a national address on Sunday, Tinubu promised that those responsible for such threats would face consequences.

The country has been gripped by the 10-day #EndBadGovernance protest against economic hardship, which has brought daily activities to a halt. The protests in northern Nigeria have been particularly turbulent, with incidents of violence, looting, and destruction of both public and private properties.

Speaking on the situation, Tinubu promised to ensure order and not “allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart”.

The president added that the law would be visited upon anyone leveraging the situation to perpetrate “ethnic bigotry or such threats” in any part of the country.

“As president of this country, I must ensure public order. 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,” he said.

“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.

“My vision for our country is one of a just and prosperous nation where each person may enjoy the peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihood that only democratic good governance can provide – one that is open, transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people.”