The Nigerian Presidency has revealed that those behind the hijack of the recent peaceful EndSARS protests, to carry out their own ill and deliberate intentions, by allowing the public demonstration to lead into the loss of lives and mass destruction of properties in the country, will account for their actions.
Garba Shehu, Senior Presidential aide on Media and Publicity, made this known while speaking to the media yesterday. He also noted that the President is responsible for his government and the Nigerian constitution. He admitted that although the constitution allows the freedom of peaceful protest, it however does not condone protest in form of riots and violent demonstrations.
The Senior Special Assistant in his statement said, ‘This country has only one president and has only one constitution. President Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for his government.’
He referenced the recent turn of events where the CBN bank has put on hold the accounts of about 20 EndSARS champions, and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), has of recent stopped Modupe Odele, another promoter of the protest from the President was aware of the new development.
The government spokesperson stated that the President is aware of the actions taken by the CBN and the Nigerian Immigration to reprimand the champions of the protests. ‘The buck stops at the table of the President’, noting that ‘the protesters must face the law.’ he said.
He proceeded by saying, ‘We are a country governed by law. There is a constitution —under section 33— that clearly defines the rights of citizens to freely protest in a peaceful way but where a peaceful protest turns into riot, violence and looting, there is a law and order duty to be performed.’ He buttressed by saying that, ‘Everyone witnessed the massive looting of public and private properties particularly in Lagos, Calabar, Plateau, Taraba and some other states, even the FCT.’
In addition, he said that, ‘Now, the laws of the country must be allowed to decide, to rule on wrongdoing on the part of anybody.’ He further said that, ‘I am not particular about any celebrity or promoter but this country has been harmed enormously and people should be prepared to account for what they did.’
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He also implored politicians,including the leading opposing party (PDP), who behind closed doors promoted the EndSARS violent demonstration, to ‘publicly denounce’ the massive destruction that ensued from the protest.