President Muhammadu Buhari has come under verbal attack for saying his administration will deal with any act of hooliganism hiding behind lawful and peaceful protests.
Buhari issued the warning while virtually declaring open the chief of army staff’s annual conference 2020 on Monday, December 7.
“Let me also mention the EndSARS protest which was recently hijacked by hoodlums which resulted in loss of lives and property in many situations across the country. I want to reiterate our government’s commitment to the rights of citizens to embark on peaceful protests.
“However, this must be done responsibly in accordance with the laws of the land.
“I also want to state that any act of hooliganism hiding behind the peaceful protests, will be highly dealt with decisively to ensure the peace and stability of our nation,” the President had said at the Army General meeting
Reacting to the President’s comment, Aisha Yesufu, Human rights activist and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls advocacy group, in an interview with Arise TV today December 8, said it is disrespectful for elected officers to describe Nigerians as hooligans.
Yesufu said the only place where hooliganism is being practiced in Nigeria is in Aso Villa.
”I think it’s very disrespectful for people that we put in office to keep looking at us and telling us all sorts of things and then citizens are the ones that are supposed to be respectful to the people in office.
“If there’s anywhere where there is hooliganism going on, I think it’s at the Aso Villa and the President is the one presiding over that and we’ve had to feel the depth of that hooliganism and it’s very unfair for the president to look at protesters, people who are tired of what’s going on in the nation to say something like that. That’s not the kind of language the president should be using.
“He has consistently over the years since he was elected denigrated Nigerians both in and outside of the country and every time he speaks it’s that tone he uses and it has to stop. The highest office of this nation is the office of the citizen.
“The office of the President is the highest political office in the land and we should always remember that we are not slaves to them, we put them there to serve us and that’s why they are called public servants,” she said.
