A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s address on the attack on EndSARS protesters as insensitive, depressing and disrespectful to Nigerians.
He said the address was more of a riot act by a military dictator than a president connected with his people.
In a statement obtained by our correspondent in Abuja, Ozekhome, who expressed bitterness over the reported military shooting of harmless protesters at Lekki toll gate, said the President simply talked down on Nigerians, not with Nigerians.
He said, “His national address was devoid of sympathy, empathy, fatherly feelings, or even the mere milk of human kindness for a nation on the dangerous precipice and cliff.
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“His speech was unfortunately insensate and insensitive. It epitomised a sorry and pathetic disconnect between the government and the people Mr president governs or pretends to govern.
“The speech was more of military dicta, a ferocious barracks riot Act, read to some unruly riotous mutineers and insurrectionists, to bring them to book.
“He simply talked down on Nigerians, not with Nigerians. I felt quite depressed and saddened. He lost a rare golden, momentous and historic opportunity to unify a profusely haemorrhaging and badly fractured nation. He spoke more like an Emperor addressing cringing servants, nay, slaves in bondage.”
He wondered why Buhari paid tribute to policemen who lost their lives in the line of duty but failed to console or condole the families and victims of police brutality and military massacre.
“He never found a word of empathy, or even sympathy, for the innocent Nigerian flags – waving peaceful protesters who were hacked down in their hundreds across the nation. Who did this to us as a country?”
Ozekhome expressed shock that the President failed to order the investigation to fish out hoodlums that hijacked the peaceful protest, their sponsors and the person that gave the order for the military intervention in a civilian matter.
