The Angry protesters came out today to protest President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued absence from the country which is now over 90 days.
Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of holding Nigeria to ransom by
his absence and urged him to resume or resign. This was made public
during the second day of the protest by a Coalition in Defence of
Nigerian Democracy.
In a report by Punch, the protesters contended that acting
President Yemi Osinbajo has been unable to take concrete decisions that
could move the nation forward. They also stressed that due to Buhari’s
absence, Osinbajo could not allocate portfolios to ministerial nominees
despite the transmission of power to him, stressing that this proved
that Buhari’s absence was stagnating the nation.
The protesters who held a sit-out at the Unity Fountain, Maitama,
Abuja under the wary eyes of policemen, stressed that the President is
not greater than the country.
The sit-out held 24 hours after the coalition members were attacked
by policemen with water cannons and tear gas canisters at the same
venue.
Ariyo Atoye of the Coalition in Defence Of Nigerian Democracy said
Buhari was being propped up in power by a cabal that wanted to continue
using his name to loot the national treasury.
“It is the cabal that wants him (Buhari) to continue in power
so they could loot the treasury. They said power has fully been
transmitted to Osinbajo but he could not even allocate portfolio to
ministers,” he said.
A member of the BringBackOurGirls movement, Aisha Yesufu criticized
the police harassment, noting that the operatives should be deployed in
the North-East to fight Boko Haram insurgents rather than assaulting
harmless youths.
She said, “Buhari is not greater than Nigeria and he cannot
continue to hold the nation to ransom because he is sick. I once said he
should resign and allow another person to take over, it is not as if we
hate him, we love him and we pray for his quick recovery. It is not
about a person, it is about the country; our mumu don do.”
Popular artist, Charlie Boy and Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke
admonished Nigerian youths to join the campaign to demand Buhari’s
return or resignation, noting that the issue is about the future and
well-being of the nation.