The Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives says it has reviewed Thursday’s speech by President Muhammadu Buhari on the protest across the country and submits that the address did not meet the expectation of many Nigerians.
The Caucus said in a statement signed by its leader, Ndudi Elumelu, that it is particularly surprising that President Buhari’s speech did not find a space to address the killing of innocent and unarmed Nigerian youths at the Lekki Tollgate; the very development that sparked off violent restiveness across the nation and consequent widespread demand for a presidential address.
The Caucus said it expected that the address by the President will come with some empathy for victims of the killings and other acts of brutality by unscrupulous security operatives, particularly at this time when soothing words from the President would have gone a long way to calm frayed nerves.
The statement hinted that the expectation across Nigeria was for President Buhari to reassure Nigerians, especially the youths by forcefully condemning the killings and brutalization of young ones, announcing an accelerated independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the gruesome acts, and setting a clear pathway for the much-needed overhaul of Nigeria’s security system.
The Minority Caucus stressed that the much desired national healing, peace, unity, and stability of Nigeria anchor on a show of concern and commitment by Leaders.
The lawmakers urged President Buhari, as the father of the nation, to take further steps to realign with the expectations of the people and reassure the nation by immediately setting up an independent inquiry into the killings with a view to prosecuting and bringing the perpetrators to book.
This is in addition to an inquiry into videos and reports that unscrupulous security operatives mobilized thugs to attack peaceful protesters and unleash violence on innocent Nigerians.
The Minority caucus also urged President Buhari to urgently rejig the nation’s security architecture by replacing his Service Chiefs with more competent and professional hands to assist in effectively handling the security challenges confronting the nation.
The Caucus further urged the President to take urgent steps to accelerate action on his Economic Reforms so as to provide ample opportunities for the youths to gainfully participate in productive sectors and ameliorate the hardship, hunger, and frustration in the land.
While it commiserates with families and victims of the violent development and also called for calm, the Minority Caucus noted that history beckons and that the unity, stability, peaceful co-existence, and general wellbeing of citizens in Nigeria should be paramount at this point of the nation’s life.