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Olufemi Ajadi, a prominent businessman and influential figure within the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has joined the growing number of Nigerians, including the esteemed Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Transparency International (TI), and the Arewa Youth Assembly, in urging the federal government to swiftly release those still detained in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests, which took place from August 1 to 10.
Ajadi’s passionate call follows widespread criticism of the government’s response to the protests, with many accusing the authorities of violating the protesters’ fundamental rights. Ajadi highlighted the irony that the president, who himself had benefited from protests in the past, should now seek to suppress the voices of others. He questioned how someone who rose to power through the free expression of ideas could now attempt to silence the same freedom in others.
Ajadi lamented that since the current administration took office, the nation’s situation had deteriorated significantly, leaving citizens with little choice but to protest and voice their discontent. He argued that the #EndBadGovernance protests reflected the people’s frustration with the government’s mismanagement of resources, pointing to the recent allocation of funds for a new presidential jet as a glaring example of misplaced priorities.
As an entrepreneur, Ajadi emphasized that he personally feels the impact of the government’s policies, both in his business and in his personal life. He urged the president not only to release those still detained but also to implement policies that would alleviate the suffering of the population.
“For me, that is simply what the #EndBadGovernance protests were about. Everyone in this country knows things are challenging. The issue is not that the country is broke, but rather a matter of resource mismanagement,” Ajadi said.
“If the government can allocate funds for a new presidential jet amidst all that is going on, why can’t it act immediately to ease the suffering of those it is constitutionally responsible for? This is part of what fueled the #EndBadGovernance protests.”
“I, too, feel the impact of the government’s poor policies as an entrepreneur. I have employees, and I understand what they are going through. In politics, I have associates at various levels, and it’s clear that people around us are struggling in this economy.”
“For these reasons, I strongly reiterate my call to the president—not only to ensure the swift release of those still detained but also to develop and implement policies to alleviate the hunger and hardship facing our country. This is the least we can hope for in a nation so richly blessed,”
Ajadi concluded.Earlier, Archbishop John Onaiyekan emphasized that the protesters, many of whom remain in detention, were not the cause of Nigeria’s problems. He urged the president to address the protesters’ grievances instead of resorting to repression.Renowned lawyer Femi Falana also voiced his concerns, insisting that the government should either release or formally charge the protesters, ensuring they have ample time to prepare their defense.
Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the Head of Transparency International (Nigeria), suggested that the prolonged detention of protesters might be a tactic to misappropriate public funds, citing cases where individuals uninvolved in the protests, including hospital patients, were targeted.
The Arewa Youth Assembly echoed these sentiments, calling for the immediate release of the protesters and arguing that the government’s reluctance to charge them indicated a lack of evidence. They warned that indefinite detention could provoke further unrest.
