By Mohammed Mohammed
Six former heads of state, including General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Gen. Ibrahim Babangidda (rtd), Chief Ernest Shonekan, Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami (rtd)
and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on Friday unanimously urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to create more jobs and expand the economic base of Nigeria to future avert youth restiveness in the country.
The statesmen made the submission in a virtual meeting held on Friday to find quick win solutions to the ongoing crisis occassioned by the ENDSARS protest that was hijacked by hoodlums to unleash mayhem on innocent Nigerians.
In his remark, President Muhammadu Buhari, said it is unfortunate that the initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths in parts of the country against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) was hijacked and misdirected.
He reiterated that government will not fold its arms and allow miscreants and criminals continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country.
The President however, recounted the initial concessions made by his administration on the demands of youths protesting against the excesses of some members of the SARS.
He recalled that the youths had demanded that the squad be disbanded, and further articulated the additional demands, including:
”The immediate release of all arrested protesters.
”Justice for deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families.
”Setting up an independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reports of Police misconduct within 10 days.
”Psychological evaluation and re-training of all disbanded SARS officers before they can be re-deployed; and increase in Police salary.”
The President declared: ”We accepted all the demands and proceeded immediately to scrap SARS and started the process of addressing the other demands.
”Unfortunately, the protesters refused to call off the protest and engage the government to address their grievances. Instead, they became emboldened and gradually turned violent.”
Buhari expressed concern that in the mayhem that ensued, many lives have been lost, a number of public and private properties completely destroyed or vandalized.
Reiterating his pledge to Nigerians from the nationwide broadcast Thursday, the President reaffirmed:
”We will continue to improve good governance through our democratic process including through sustained engagement.
”We shall also continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected. Here, I want to also reaffirm our commitment to preserving the unity of this country.”
The former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign investments were critical to checking youth restiveness.
They also expressed their condolences to the bereaved families of civilians, policemen and soldiers killed as a result of the violent protest, and reaffirmed the commitment to respect the fundamental rights of citizens, including for peaceful protest as enshrined in the Constitution.
They called on youths to pursue peaceful means, in seeking redress through engagement with government and encouraged further conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country.