Govt won’t allow anarchy, Lai Mohammed says as #EndSARS protests continue

 Govt won’t allow anarchy, Lai Mohammed says as #EndSARS protests continue

By Emmanuel Awosika

The Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said hoodlums have hijacked the #EndSARS protests to destabilise the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

Speaking in an interview with Radio Nigeria in Abuja on Sunday, the Minister said it was perplexing that protesters were still on the streets despite the FG implementing their demands.

He said, “When you look at the demands of the #EndSARS and the decisions of the Federal Government, it is clear that there is no single demand of the group that has not been met.

“Therefore, one will begin to ask if there is an ulterior motive because what we have witnessed in the last few days is that they have moved their demands from five to seven.

“As soon as the government approved one demand another one will follow.

“From the five demands which were initially tabled and have been addressed, they are now including petrol price, national assembly salaries, and allowances, electricity tariff among others.

“Then you begin to ask yourself what exactly is the motive of the protests and who are those behind them.”

Mohammed said that the attempt on the life of Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, at an #EndSARS protest in the state was proof that unruly elements had hijacked the protest for ulterior motives.

According to him, the protest had become violent demonstrations, affecting activities negatively and causing damage to lives and property.

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“Peaceful protest is synonymous with democratic tenets and to that extent, we see the EndSARS protest as the manifestation of how far our democracy has developed

“Regrettably, the protest has been hijacked by hoodlums and by people with ulterior motives bent at destabilising the country.

“As of today, many people in many parts of the country simply cannot go out because people are being intimidated and roads have been blocked.

“There was a report of a pregnant woman that died inside the ambulance simply because she could not get to the hospital because of the protesters.

“This cannot be allowed to continue because where your right stops another person’s rights begin.

“While the government will continue to engage, no responsible government will fold its arms and allow the state to be thrown into anarchy,” he said.

Protesters in various parts of the country have laid siege to important areas such as the Lekki Tollgate as they demand an end to police brutality, among other things.

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