President Bola Tinubu on Thursday in Abuja emphasised the importance of sustaining democracy, its norms and institutions, noting that protests are an integral part of democracy, but stressed that no government will condone demonstrations that lead to the destruction of lives and property.
The President who was speaking about the planned August 1 nationwide protests in Nigeria, made the remarks, at the Presidential Villa when he received Letter of Credence from the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr.
Urges traditional rulers to engage more with citizens
This is just as the President also, while engaging with traditional rulers on Thursday, charged them to engage more with their citizens, to ensure that hoodlums do not hijack the exercise.
Speaking on Nigeria’s relationships with the United States of America, he stated that “Our relationship with America is rich. We believe in democracy and freedom. Some of your predecessors worked hard during our transition to democracy, and we remember the likes of Ambassador Howard Jeter.
”We look forward to Nigeria and the United States continuously working to expand cooperation on shared goals and democratic values.
I participated in peaceful protests for democracy — Tinubu
”During the military era, we made our voices heard against dictatorship, and I was part of the group that engaged in peaceful protests without resorting to the destruction of property.
”We have worked hard to ensure 25 years of unbroken democracy and I will continue to maintain this democracy.
”In as much as we believe that demonstrations are part of democracy, we will never encourage any protests that lead to the destruction of lives and property,” the President stated.
The President also welcomed the U.S. State Department’s acknowledgement of Nigeria’s strategic role on the continent as Africa’s largest democracy, and called on the U.S. government to pay more attention to Africa.
”Nigeria is ready to play its role as the largest democracy in Africa that is worthy of emulation to other African countries, but we need more U.S. partnership on the continent that is beneficial to both sides.
”We believe in freedom, and we are providing the leadership to make Nigeria’s economy grow,” the President said.
Richard Mills Jr., the US Ambassador to Nigeria, in his remarks earlier, affirmed U.S. support for Nigeria’s democracy, and pledged support for bigger roles for Nigeria in the international arena.
”Nigeria is crucial to the United States because we share democratic values, and we are ready to give you all the support.
”I am here to make sure that the relationship blossoms both on democracy and the economic side,” Ambassador Mills said.
Expressing the United States’ commitment to expanding cooperation with Nigeria on cybercrimes, the Ambassador announced the establishment of a special office at the Embassy to work closely with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The President also received Letters of Credence from Aiyub Bin Omar, the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Nigeria, and Phild Nani Kereng, the High Commissioner of Botswana to Nigeria
President Tinubu told the High Commissioner of Malaysia that Nigeria would work towards improving the balance of trade between the two countries.
”Diversification of the economy is uppermost on my Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigeria. We must look at how we can improve the balance of trade with Malaysia,” the President said.
President Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerian students find studying in Malaysia attractive, adding that Nigeria looks forward to their contributions to the development of critical sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and ICT.
The Malaysian High Commissioner said that ahead of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations in 2025, Malaysia is looking forward to strengthening relations with Nigeria.
”We are pleased with our cooperation in the areas of education. We are also keen on working with Nigerian partners in the financial services sector,” the High Commissioner said.
In his audience with the Botswana High Commissioner, the President expressed Nigeria’s readiness to develop a robust cultural and economic cooperation with the Southern African country.
Acknowledging Botswana’s progress on livestock development, the President said he had received briefing from a committee established to create a ministry of livestock development in Nigeria.
”The committee is at work, and their report will be ready in the next two weeks. Africa’s solution is in our hands. Nobody will help us if we do not help ourselves,” the President said.
President Tinubu described President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana as a good friend and extended his appreciation to the Botswana President for attending his inauguration.
High Commissioner Kereng said Botswana is committed to being a leader in the production of livestock vaccines and is prepared to partner Nigeria in this area.
President Tinubu while also meeting with some traditional rulers, emphasized the need to embark on more engagements and dialogues with citizens at all levels, as part of efforts to avert the nationwide protests fixed for August 1st to 10th.
The President had met with the traditional rulers, after meeting with Governors elected under the platform of the All Progressive Congress APC, in continuation of his efforts to avert the protest against economic hardship, planned for August 1,
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, while briefing State House Journalists after the meeting,commended the President, adding that “for the very first time, the traditional rulers were properly engaged in terms of the plans of government and governance, their achievements so far, and where they’re having challenges.
“This is long awaited. We’ve been waiting for it, but today we’re very excited because we’re closer to our people and we can bring those feedbacks back home
“Stewardship from the Federal Executive Council, directly to the traditional rulers, it has never happened in our nation before, never. This is the first time we’re all experiencing it”
The royal father who stated that they are more exposed to the people they rule over, noted that it’s the protester’s civic right, to protest, but charged them to “ put a face to it and don’t let it be hijacked by people that have ulterior motives.
“That is our stand. We condemn such acts fully, we traditional rulers are not encouraging people, especially the youth, coming out to start looting, to start breaking down law and order. We are parents, we are traditional rulers, we are closer to them, we are going to go back home and continue to engage them”
The President has said it and he will continue to say it, any leader that you don’t like, wait and vote him out. He is open to dialogue. We know that challenges are so many Nigeria, we know that, but are we going to destroy our nation by ourselves? Is that what we’re all after?
We should talk to ourselves. It’s important for us to know that today, it’s a completely different spin. The government, ably led by the President, is willing to engage and dialogue and bring governance very close to the people.
Nuhu Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, urged the people to be calm, exercise patience and to also listen to the words of wisdom coming from the Government.
“The President has given us the blueprint of what he has been doing over time and we are hopeful that by God’s grace it will be alright.
“ Though we have made it very clear to him, the main problem in this country, especially the north is insecurity. If the security situation is addressed certainly people will go back to their farms and the issue of hunger will drastically reduce and disappear.
He noted that the traditional rulers are worried about the proposed protest, citing what has happened in other countries
“ Nobody that will not be worried about the protest, in any place in the world and we have seen what is happened in other climes and governments were brought down. As an ex diplomat, I have seen what happened in other climes and that is why I am in the position to say what happen in other places.
“So we are calling on our people exercise patience and to listen to the words of wisdom. We are very optimistic Nigeria will bounce back to its former position as the leading country in Africa.
Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, Keagborekuzi Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Dein Keagborekuzi the 1st Of the Ancient Great Agbor of Kingdom, expressed satisfaction that the President is ready to engage with the people
“I think the government is finally understanding that we are at the precipice. Our youths are our future and I think today we’ve demonstrated that the government, with the officials, we do have the hearts of the nation in our minds, we will listen to our youths because the lead the future.
“The power, the strength of Nigeria is certainly with the young people. We feel your pain, I’m a young person myself. It’s been 24 years I’ve been back and it’s been 24 years that I’ve started seeing the nation going in a very unpalatable direction, but by God’s grace, I think if you give us the chance, this protest, I know that it’s catching very high in your neck, but if you give us the chance, let us not destroy our own country.
“I’ll ask you think of Libya. Libya was a beautiful country, what has happened to Libya, we don’t want it to happen here. Let’s go home, let’s continue to strive the best that we can and continue to work with the government to see if we can proffer some solutions. I think that that would be best rather than to destroy property or injure ourselves”.
