Former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili has called on Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to actively engage with protesters rather than silencing them.
In a post on her official X handle, Ezekwesili emphasized that leaders who ignore the grievances of their people have never succeeded. She urged the government to listen to the citizens, present factual counterpoints, and provide a convincing plan of action.
Ezekwesili further advised the government to use this as an opportunity to initiate a national conversation on effective governance structures. She encouraged government officials to come out to the protest grounds, engage with citizens directly, and address their demands.
She stated, “No Leaders have ever won against their People. None.
“When a People tell their Leaders that they are hungry and angry because you have governed them badly, the wise thing to do is not to shut them up, threaten, taunt and brutalize them thereby demonstrating a tragic empathy deficit syndrome.
“The wise things to do are:
“Listen. Listen. Listen.
“Persuade with Factual Counterpoints
“Present Convincing Plan of Action
“Mobilize the People to “Arise and Build!”
“The NigeriaGov, NGRPresident, nassnigeria and Governors of State and their State Assemblies still have an opportunity to do the right things by their Citizens who are asking them to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria :
“Use it as the Golden Moment of Opportunity for a Reset of Nigeria being offered by our Citizens and launch a credible National Conversation on the Most Effective Structure and Direction for Good Governance at all levels for productivity, competitiveness, prosperity, justice, equity, equality, order, peace, harmony, stability and resilience.
“Come out to the Protest Grounds all over the Country and ENGAGE your Citizens. Hear them express their Demands to you directly. Do not lock yourselves away behind the High Gates of your publicly-funded State and Government houses enjoying indulgent lives while your Citizens are crying out in pain from the severity of economic hardship. Come out.
“The Choice is in your hands still,” Ezekwesili added.
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