As the nationwide hunger protests entered their second day, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has urged Nigerians to suspend the demonstrations immediately.
In a statement released on Friday, Adegboruwa reacted to the losses incurred during the ongoing protests, emphasizing that the disruptions and damages were not the intended outcomes.
“I appeal to the protesters to withdraw from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely to allow for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the federal government,” Adegboruwa stated.
He highlighted the concern that the protests had been hijacked by sponsored agents, which has resulted in increased losses and casualties. “The organizers and their representatives should embrace dialogue,” he added.
Adegboruwa also expressed condolences to the employers and families of security personnel affected by the protests, as well as to the protesters themselves. “I pray to God to comfort them and to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses,” he said.
Furthermore, Adegboruwa called on President Bola Tinubu to “directly address the nation and then engage the protesters through their representatives.”
Adegboruwa is one of the lawyers for the Take It Back Movement, a group actively participating in the ongoing protests. On July 26, 2024, Adegboruwa wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on behalf of the group planning the #EndBadGovernance protest, requesting police coverage for the demonstrators.
