Condemnations Trail Buhari’s Silence On Lekki Shootings During #EndSARS Address
Condemnations have greeted the silence of President Muhammadu Buhari, on the shootings of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate during his nationwide address Thursday evening.
Though the president mourned policemen who were killed during the #EndSARS crisis, he refused to say anything on the Lekki shootings which occurred on Tuesday.
Also, the president during his nationwide broadcast on Thursday asked the youths to shun the #EndSARS protest, saying that the federal government would not tolerate the undermining of national security.
Shortly after the president’s speech, many Nigerians took to social media to express their disappointment over the president’s silence on the attack on #EndSARS protesters at Lekki.
One of the commenters, Kingsley Moghalu, was displeased that Buhari’s speech would encourage the culture of impunity in the country.
The former presidential candidate said, “I am disappointed by President @MBuhari’s recorded speech to the country today. He failed to acknowledge the #Lekkitollgate killings. I didn’t see a concrete response to the culture of impunity and police brutality, or to governance reforms other than a regurgitation of ‘programs’.”
Also, Super Eagles player, John Ogu, wondered why Buhari placed priority on the attack on Oba of Lagos, Riliwan Akiolu’s palace over the Lekki toll gate incident.
“Bruh (sic) that they turned the Oba palace to Scencillo is even more important than Lekki Massacre. God help us.”
Also, President, Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide, Apostle Johnson Suleman, described Buhari’s speech as “insensitive, useless.”
He tweeted, “Never had a more ‘wasted 12mins’ all my life, insensitive and useless speech. Who gave the orders for people to be killed?
“What’re the repercussions of such blatant impunity? nobody was fired for lives wasted? No compensation for victims’ families? I wish I can “unwatch” it.”
A former presidential aspirant, Oby Ezekwesili, faulted Buhari for speech, saying that it is a setback for Nigeria’s democracy.
She said, “A tribute night to a person of inestimable legacy helped save me from the ache that vacuous speeches inflict.
“To compatriots aching from the failure of our @NGRPresident to use his speech to condole, assuage, unite and build confidence in his citizens, ndonu.
“I feel compelled to let you know that NOTHING in that out-of-touch speech of our @NGRPresident, @MBuhari invalidates the great progress you helped our Democracy make in the 12 days you conducted a most effective peaceful protest in Nigeria
“The world followed your peaceful protests with huge interest and delight with many awed at your organisational effectiveness.
“The world saw when @NigeriaGov incompetently handled your agitation, used the police to brutalise you on protest grounds, enabled thugs to attack you.
“The world saw and applaud your peaceful #EndSARS protests. It will forever be celebrated as a historical activation of the #OfficeOfTheCitizen in our democracy. No amount of distorted narrative by @NGRPresident can taint your well-conducted peaceful protests. You inspired!”
A former senator, Dino Melaye, added, “The speech of the president made me speechless. Mennnnnn I tire oooo. Recommending panadol for cancer is suicidal.”
“That you couldn’t find anyone in the regime willing to forgo the trappings of power to stand with the people is scary!” Omoyele Sowore, leader of #RevolutionNow Movement, added.
A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, said, Buhari “failed the basic test of leadership”.
“General @MBuhari’s Speech just showed that he is a semiliterate brute who knows nothing other than the use of violence. His useless speech had no empathy, no direction, no hope,” he tweeted.
One of the leading #EndSARS protesters, Deji Adeyanju, said, “After Buhari’s speech, the soldiers that extrajudicially killed protesters in Lekki may even get promotions.”
