Former Kano State Governor, Ibrahim Shekarau, has urged President Bola Tinubu to “go back to the drawing board” in addressing the needs of Nigerians.
Shekarau’s statement came in the wake of the recent EndBadGovernance protests, which he described as a “clear message” to Tinubu and his administration.
Recall that the nationwide protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, spanned from 1st to 10th of August 2024, as Nigerians flooded the streets of major cities across the country, demanding sweeping economic and political reforms.
Protesters called for a reversal of contentious policies such as the removal of petrol subsidies and the floating of the naira.
While the demonstrations did little to force immediate changes, Shekarau believes the message was loud and clear.
“The last protests on the end of bad governance is a clear message,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.
“The agitation was not a regional, state affair. It was a national matter. I think it’s a very clear message to the President and the Federal Government. Nigerians are saying, ‘please go back to the drawing board and reassess what you are giving us.’”
Initially peaceful, the protests spiraled into violence in states like Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property.
Despite the unrest, Shekarau emphasized that the protests reflect the deep frustration of Nigerians, urging the government to act decisively on the demands for change.