Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to restrain the military and other security agencies from using brute force against the protesting youth.
A statement, entitled” “Violence Against Protesters in Nigeria: An Appeal for Calm”, which he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, also enjoined the protesting youth across the country to give peace a chance, as they go about making their legitimate demands.
Obasanjo said he was speaking with a heavy heart and deep sense of concern about the goings on in the country.
“The shooting and murder of unarmed protesters, no matter the level of provocation, has never been effective in suppressing public anger and frustration.
“Instead, such actions only reinforce the anger and frustration of the populace and close the window of dialogue and peaceful resolution.
“It is clear that the president and his lieutenants did exhaust the opportunities for dialogue with the protesters before resorting to the use of force.
“It is worse that there is denial of wrong doing in spite of overwhelming visual evidence. Great harm has been done, but it can be stopped before it completely spirals out of control,” he said.
Obasanjo, while stating that the country was now at a critical moment, called on the president to act now.
The former president, however, appealed to the youth to give peace a chance while making their legitimate demands, saying they must be mindful of miscreants who would infiltrate their ranks and give the protests a bad name.
