Ajadi, Onaiyekan, Falana demand release of #EndBadGovernance protesters

Prominent Nigerian figures, including businessman and NNPP stalwart Olufemi Ajadi, Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and human rights lawyer Femi Falana, have joined Transparency International (TI) and the Arewa Youth Assembly in calling for the immediate release of #EndBadGovernance protesters still in detention.

The protests, which took place from August 1 to 10, were a response to widespread frustration over government mismanagement. While some protesters were released, many remain detained without trial. Ajadi voiced his dismay, emphasising that President Bola Tinubu, who once benefited from protests, should not suppress the voices of others seeking accountability.

Ajadi criticised the government’s handling of the protests and highlighted its recent decision to allocate funds for a new presidential jet as an example of misplaced priorities.

“It is not that the country is broke, it is simply a question of mismanagement of resources,” Ajadi stated, underscoring the pressing need for policies that would alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

He further urged the government to heed the protests as a cry for help, stressing that every Nigerian is feeling the adverse effects of bad policies, including himself, both as an entrepreneur and a citizen.

“I feel the impact of the bad policies of the government, being an entrepreneur. I have workers, and I know what they are going through,” Ajadi added.

Ajadi called on the president to not only expedite the release of detained protesters but also to implement programmes that would address the ongoing economic challenges and ease the widespread hunger and hardship.

Echoing Ajadi’s sentiments, Archbishop John Onaiyekan stressed that the detained protesters were not responsible for Nigeria’s problems and urged the government to engage with their grievances rather than resorting to repression.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana added to the outcry, demanding that the protesters either be released or arraigned, ensuring they have adequate time to prepare their defence. Falana condemned the indefinite detentions as a violation of justice.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), also criticised the government’s actions, accusing them of using the detentions as a way to siphon public funds. He alleged that many individuals, including hospital patients, were wrongfully targeted during the protests.

The Arewa Youth Assembly joined the growing chorus of voices demanding the protesters’ release, warning that their continued detention without trial could ignite further unrest. They argued that the government’s inability to arraign the protesters suggested a lack of evidence against them.

With pressure mounting from various sectors of society, the federal government is under increased scrutiny to address the ongoing detentions and respond to the calls for meaningful reforms.