As the nationwide hunger protests entered their second day, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa called for an immediate suspension of the demonstrations. In a statement issued on Friday, Adegboruwa expressed concern over the losses incurred during the protests, emphasizing that the goal was not to cause harm or disruption.
He urged protesters to leave their protest sites and suspend further actions indefinitely, allowing for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the federal government. Adegboruwa highlighted the risk of the protests being hijacked by sponsored agents, which could lead to further losses and casualties. He called on the organizers and their representatives to prioritize dialogue as a way forward.
He wrote: “I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the federal government.”
“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties. The organisers and their representatives should embrace dialogue.”
“My sincere condolences to the employers and families of the security personnel and also to the protesters, praying to God to comfort them and to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.”
He further urged President Bola Tinubu to “directly address the nation and then engage the protesters through their representatives.”
Adegboruwa is one of the lawyers of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups participating in the ongoing protests.
Adegboruwa had on July 26, 2024, written to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun on behalf of the group planning the #EndBadGovernance protest to provide police coverage for protesters.
