One of the areas which seemed to have caught the attention of many Nigerians during the #EndSARS peaceful protest that later swung into violence was President Muhammad Buhari’s speech after the dreadful Lekki shootings on the night of 20th October, 2020.
The president had come under serious criticism from those driven up the wall by his speech in the aftermath of the incident. Thus, the clichéd description given to Buhari’s words on that night had been it “dearth of empathy”.
While some citizens faulted the president’s speech, which was pre-recorded, over its failure to include the troubling events at Lekki, others berated its position towards the international community for interfering in the crisis that besieged the country.
Among those who expressed displeasure over the speech given two weeks ago, is a renowned Professor of Political Science, Bolaji Akinyemi who cautioned writers of the President’s speeches to desist from trying to invalidate the response of international community during the crisis that trailed the protest.
Recall that the President had in his address to Nigerians said, “To our neighbours in particular and members of the international community, many of whom have expressed concern about the ongoing developments in Nigeria, we thank you and urge you all to seek to know all the facts available before taking a position or rushing to judgment and making hasty pronouncements.”
Akinyemi who stated this in a Breakfast programme, the Morning Show on Arise Television also warned the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai to be mindful so as not provoke violence within the local and international terrain when issuing press releases to explain the position of the military.
Reacting to the jibe by the President, Professor Akinyemi said: “I don’t think the President’s speech is helpful when a President decides to demonize the international community and tell them basically to either mind their business or that they don’t know what they are talking about. Invariably and because of technology, the international community knows what he is talking about.
“I will not be surprised if the United States of America, USA through its satellite has videos of what happened at Lekki Toll Gate that night. I remember during the first Gulf war, the American Chief of Staff telling the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA to turn the camera on to one of their satellites around because he wanted to see precisely what was happening in Iraq, in a particular area and they did (real time).
“Even if you want to disagree with the international community, it is good to do so in a civil way. If I were writing that speech, I wouldn’t have written it that way.”
Akinyemi also lambasted the Chief of Army Staff over his response in the Lekki shooting citing that his press release lacked civility as there could have been a preferred way of conveying his message without inciting chaos.
“Let me also expand my comment to cover the lack of civility by the statement released to the public by the Chief of Army Staff. I have been dealing with military officers of General level. I didn’t serve under General Yakubu Gowon but I interacted with him. I interacted with Generals (Murtala) Muhammed, TY Danjuma, my boss, Ibrahim Babangida. I am used to civility in the speech by the Generals in the Nigerian Army. I found the tone of that speech offensive,” adding that “even if you want to put the views of the military across, there are ways to do so without offending your readers or listeners.
“Nigeria should know that it is dealing with the international community as well as the domestic community. You are dealing with educated and civilized people. Those who represent us or speak on our behalf should watch their language,” he added.
