After almost 2 weeks of peaceful protests under #EndSars movement which later was disrupted by political thugs. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari had addressed Nigerians on Thursday October, 22nd. His speech came and it left everyone and the whole nation Speechless.
Nigerians lamenting showing displeasure and utmost shock at the speech of the president which they all said lacked Empathy. I immediately hurried myself and hastened to go home to listen and read the speech. Before getting home reactions on social media which said the video was edited and cropped and that gave room for a lot of suspicion, I would rather ignore that.
“Fellow Nigerians, it has become necessary to address you after having heard from many concerned Nigerians and having a concluded meeting with all the security chiefs” That was the opening paragraph of the president’s speech after going through it and going through it for the umpteenth time shows the lack of empathy and the unsympathetic nature of the president and a golden chance missed by the presidency to show that he is first the father of the nation and he understands the plight of the young people.
Aftermath the Lekki massacre which occurred on Tuesday 20th October 2020 at the Lekki toll gate a spot that has heralded the voice of the young people which make up about 60% or more of the nation protesting and speaking out against police brutality a Just cause the nation was in need of answers, the nation was in need of a response by the government showing that they cared and understood just like what the Oyo State Governor H.E Seyi Makinde exhibited in calming frayed nerves and dousing palpable tensions in Oyo state but instead Nigerians got the exact opposite and in fact no reference was made to the fact that young people were murdered by soldiers on that “Black Tuesday”.
Going through the speech will shatter aspirations for a new Nigeria. As observed in the social media a space that’s dominated by young people there was sadness and grief after listening to the President. But regardless the youths have raised their voices and as the president admitted in his speech he has heard them clearly that’s a positive it has shown that if the Nigerian youths are united they can accomplish whatsoever.
The way forward should be what the young people should be focused on, adoption of a new strategy is required at this point, emotions are flaring but after that let’s the youth make sure the souls of those that have been lost in the struggle not be in vain and ask what’s next?
