President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerian youths still protesting on the streets of the country to stop and engage the government constructively.
That he said was with the intention of finding solutions to the problems at hand.
The president made the call in a nationwide broadcast on Thursday over the EndSARS protest carried out to put an end to police brutality.
He urged the protesters to take advantage of the various welfare programmes of the government designed to make their lives better.
He also said they should not allow themselves to be used by subversive elements to truncate the nation’s democracy.
His words: “In the circumstances, I would like to appeal to protesters to note and take advantage of the various well-thought-out initiatives of this administration designed to make their lives better and more meaningful, and resist the temptation of being used by some subversive elements to cause chaos with the aim of truncating our nascent democracy.
“For you to do otherwise will amount to undermining national security and the law and order situation. Under no circumstances will this be tolerated.
“I therefore call on our youths to discontinue the street protests and constructively engage government in finding solutions. Your voice has been heard loud and clear and we are responding.”
The president called on Nigerians to go about their normal businesses just as he called on security agencies to protect lives and properties of law abiding Nigerians.
“And I call on all Nigerians to go about their normal businesses, and enjoin security agencies to protect lives and properties of all law abiding citizens without doing harm to those they are meant to protect,” he said.
“Let me pay tribute to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who have tragically lost their lives in the line of duty.
“I would like to thank those state Governors, traditional and religious leaders who have appealed for calm and restraint. I also thank youth leaders who have restrained their followers from taking the law into their hands,” he added.
