President Akuffo Addo has finally broken his silence, calling for a peaceful resolution to unrest as a result of #endsars campaign in Nigeria.
He thus called for dialogue that will bring lasting solution to the #endsars unrest.
“I join all well-meaning persons in calling for calm and the use of dialogue in resolving the impasse in Nigeria. I have spoken with President Buhari, who is committed to this end, and has begun the processes that will lead to reform. ”Violence, be it on the part of the Police or protesters, cannot be the solution. To the families who have lost their loved ones, I express my sincere condolences, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he tweeted.
Silence over #Endsars unrests
This statement comes after some sections of Ghanaians including celebrities expressed their disappointment and outrage over Akuffo Addo’s long silence over the issue as the current Chairperson of ECOWAS.
Private legal practitioner, actress and television personality, Sandra Ankobea tweeted
“Mr. President @NAkufoAddo please show some empathy. Please show the Nigerian youth that you care. Please show some authority as the Head of Ecowas. Thank you.”
Berla Mundi, co-host of the “New Day” show on TV3, said
“Nigeria’s government has failed to protect its people. How you open fire on unarmed civilians leaves me befuddled!!” Before urging that “Dear @NAkufoAddo please step.”
Yvonne Nelson wrote
“Where is the African Union (AU)? Where is ECOWAS?? West African Leaders, where are you?? Speak for the people of NIGERIA! AFRICA AND THE WORLD IS WATCHING.”
“People are dying in Nigeria and as the ECOWAS chairperson, you are doing nothing about it. Why??? @NAkufoAddo” a Twitter user wrote.
ECOWAS on #Endsars unrests
Also, On Wednesday, 21 October 2020, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Jean Claude-Kassi Brou in a signed statement called for a peaceful protest by the Nigerian youths and an amicable solution to the unrest.
“ECOWAS Commission notes with concern that demonstrations by Nigerian youth calling for police reform, particularly the abolition of the Special-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, accused of misconduct by those demonstrating, have turned violent. ECOWAS Commission expresses its condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives during the protests and wishes the injured a speedy recovery. While ECOWAS Commission recognizes the right of citizens to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and protest, it is also of the view that those rights should be exercised in a non-violent manner. In this regard, ECOWAS Commission calls on all protesters to remain peaceful in the conduct of their demonstrations.” the report read.
The commission also appealed to the
“Federal Government of Nigeria, the Nigerian youth and the civil society to urgently pursue dialogue for an early and amicable resolution of this social unrest and maintain the Nigerian image as a bastion of law and order.”
This statement comes after Nigerian police and soldiers killed at least 12 protesters in the Lekki toll gate area of Lagos who were demonstrating in defiance of a 24-hour curfew. The curfew went into effect on Tuesday at 4 p.m. local time to curb mass demonstrations in Nigeria’s largest city Lagos.
