EndSARS: Presidency Blames Adeboye, Others After Buhari’s Address

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity has again thrown punches against religious leaders in the country for fanning the embers of hate, following aggravation of violence by protesters demanding good governance and reform in the police force.

The presidential spokesman said this in an article he titled ‘If Nigeria Dies, Hatred Killed Her’on the heels of the national broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari, which many said failed to pacify angry Nigerians after soldiers killed EndSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos on Tuesday.

The united state of America, UK and Amnesty International are among those that have criticised the fatal shooting of armless protesters by men of the Nigerian Army.

Adesina has, however blamed pastors and imams for spreading hate speeches that aggravated the carnage in the last 15 days.

Recall that Pastor Enoch Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeem Christian Church of God, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Winners Chapel were among religious leaders that have called out the government to dialogue with the protesters.

The presidential adviser said the quest to grab power by various political actors in the country in 2023 and hate speeches by notable clerics has further poured fuel in the agitation by mostly youths across the country.

“The EndSARS campaign began as an agitation against police brutality, in which there was unanimity of purpose. And suddenly, it became a vehicle of hate. Against leadership, against national cohesion, an opportunity to settle political scores, and equally prepare for power grab in 2023. Hatred came into the mix,” Adesina said.

Adding that “When things boil over in graphic demonstration of hatred, it is a culmination of negative sentiments and tendencies. They come in persistent negative postings on social media, which generate and stimulate hate.

“From hateful messages from the pulpit, as if that was the message of love Jesus Christ handed over to his followers. From unduly critical messages during jumat services. From radio and television programs, in which bile is spewed. From talk shows which become a harangue of government, newspaper articles and columns tailored to instigate and generate dissent, and the like.

“Eventually, all cumulate in hatred, which finds expression in genuine causes like the EndSARS campaign. When things boil over, they leave sorrow, tears and blood in their wake, as we have seen. And who suffers? The whole country. Who bleeds? Nigeria.”

He blamed the president’s political opponents for skirmishes, adding that religious clerics have  been spewing hatred using their positions as opinion molders in churches and mosques, rather than calling for restraint among their followers.

Adesina said “Those beaten black and blue in the 2015 and 2019 elections also crept in, and asked for their pound of flesh, while also plotting for a return to power in 2023, Hatred is evinced from many quarters for Nigeria, and for its government and people at any given time. It comes from churches, mosques, professional activists and agitators, interest groups, some elements in the media, so-called analysts who never see anything good, and so on and so forth.”

Meanwhile, many Nigerians have cirticised President Buhari for not addressing the killing of protesters by soldiers in Lagos on Tuesday.

Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu had said that he didn’t order the operation in which at least seven protesters were killed in cold blood. He said soldiers would only obey the president who’s the commander-in-chief.