Protests are legitimate, but it is time to talk with the federal government – ​​Laolu Akande to organizers

Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesperson, acknowledged the legitimacy of the #EndBadGovernance protests on Sunday.

He also urged the protesters to engage in dialogue with the federal government.

His comments were made on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande as the nationwide protests continue to gather momentum.

“If they can successfully end the violence of the ongoing protests against bad governance, Nigerian youth may have achieved a significant achievement in governance and accountability. Even before the protests began, we have all witnessed significant public commitment from the government.

“The president has held several meetings with traditional leaders over the protests. Even the Inspector General of Police, in an unprecedented move, held an online meeting to discuss planning for the ongoing protests,” he said.

Akande also highlighted the unprecedented attention the protests have attracted, noting: “No protest in our history, at least in recent times, has attracted this level of attention and focus.

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“It is a positive sign that young Nigerians are demonstrating that they will not be silenced during this difficult time for the country. We hope that our political leaders will take note and demonstrate greater sensitivity and emotional intelligence in their conduct.”

Acknowledging the long-standing problems of bad governance, corruption, poverty and insecurity, Akande stressed the validity of the protesters’ concerns stemming from years of poor governance decisions.

He stressed that while protests are a powerful tool to express discontent, protesters must move from confrontation to constructive dialogue.

“The #EndBadGovernance protests are legitimate. They address real issues plaguing our country. But now is the time to move from protest to discussion. We need to sit down with the federal government and negotiate meaningful and achievable demands.”

Akande stressed that the current protests have attracted considerable attention from the public and the government. He noted that the President and various government officials have already engaged in discussions regarding the protests, indicating their willingness to listen.

He also spoke of the need for greater sensitivity and emotional intelligence on the part of political leaders.

“It is a positive report that Nigerian youths are showing that they will not remain silent in the midst of this truly difficult period the country is passing through. They will not remain silent when they see a torrent of bad governance in many places,” Akande added.