As the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests enter the second day, prominent human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and the legal representative of the protesters have urged the youth to suspend the demonstrations indefinitely.
In a statement released on Friday, Adegboruwa expressed concern that the protests, initially organized with the intent of peaceful and well-coordinated action, have been infiltrated by individuals with potentially disruptive motives.
He suggested that the infiltrators could derail the protests’ objectives and escalate tensions.
“Though the intention of the organisers was to achieve peaceful and well-coordinated protests, it would seem that fifth columnists and some angry persons infiltrated the ranks of the protesters to derail their laudable mission.
“I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, in order to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government,” Adegboruwa said.
The human rights lawyer, who also represents the Take It Back Movement—one of the groups behind the protests—regretted the deaths and losses that have occurred so far, stating that they were never intended as part of the protest’s goals.
He offered his condolences to the families of both security personnel and protesters affected by the unrest.
Adegboruwa had previously suggested on the eve of the protests that the planned 10-day demonstration be reduced to one day to minimize risks.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to address the nation directly and engage with the protesters through their representatives.
“The government should set up a committee comprising men and women of integrity to meet with the protesters to address the issues that they have raised,” Adegboruwa added.
The protests, which began on August 1, have seen demonstrations in major cities including Abuja, Lagos, and Kano, driven by grievances over President Tinubu’s economic policies and governance issues.
