Dialogue with protesters now – Onaiyekan to Tinubu

The Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has charged President Bola Tinubu to take the initiative towards dialoguing with unarmed protesters.

Onaiyekun informed the president that unarmed protesters are not the cause of Nigeria’s problems.

DAILY POST recalls that protesters, under the tag EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, took to the streets to protest for 10 days against the hardship and suffering in the country.

During the protest, the aggrieved Nigerians made some demands from President Tinubu.

Responding, Tinubu, in a nationwide broadcast had expressed interest in dialogue with the protesters.

Speaking on the issue in Abuja yesterday, Cardinal Onaiyekan faulted Tinubu’s address regarding his demands for dialogue with the protesters.

He said: “It is not unarmed protesters who are the cause of our problems. Our president told us he is ready to dialogue with all those who are unhappy, but he needs to take the initiative now.

“Is this how to ask for dialogue? There is a need to completely change our attitude. The people (protesters) were just ordinary young people who are hungry.

“The only way to show that you feel our pain is to do things that will relieve the suffering and pain of the people. That is what the government is there for.

“When we talk about youth nowadays, we are not talking about small boys or girls; we are talking about people who are 35 and below. Most of them have graduated, and most of them have skills.”