John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Emeritus Archbishop of Abuja, clarified that the recent #EndBadGovernance protests were not aimed at ending President Bola Tinubu’s administration but were a call for better governance in Nigeria.
The federal government had at several times accused the protesters and their alleged sponsors of trying to effect a change of government. The government insisted that the protesters were no really demanding good governance but wanted to perpetrate anarchy and then push for coup against the current regime.
However, speaking at a Christian Youth for Peace and Development Initiative event in Abuja, Onaiyekan emphasized that the youth are demanding improved management of the country, not targeting any specific individual or administration.
He noted, “They simply said they want to end bad governance… we can do better than what we are doing.” The Cardinal also expressed understanding of the impatience of the youth, questioning the President’s call for patience, given that young people should be proactive rather than passive.