Nigeria is Like a Patient in the Intensive Care Unit,"Don't Shut Out Its Oxygen" Says Tinubu,Pleads for Suspension of Nationwide Protests

By: Olufemi Orunsola 

The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu has likened the country to a patient receiving medical attention at the Intensive Care Unit(ICU) whose oxygen must not be tampered with or shut out.

The President, who made this graphic illustration during his national broadcast on Sunday morning pleaded with Nigerians that :"The economy is recovering ; please don't shut out its oxygen".

President Tinubu who recounted the huge losses the country has suffered during the nationwide #EndBadGovernance cum #EndHunger Protests within the last 72 hours expressed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives during the peaceful protests that have turned violent with arsons and lootings of public and private property recorded across the nation.

Tinubu agreed that he takes responsibility for the current state of affairs in the leadership of the most populous African country saying "Yes. I agree.The buck stops at my table" but he pleaded with aggrieved Nigerians, especially the youths to suspend the protests and embrace further dialogues, noting that he has always been open to dialogue and will remain open to such moves.

Tinubu also assured Nigerians that the message of the end hunger protests have been well delivered and understood by him, saying "I have heard you loud and clear" adding that "our government is committed to listening".

The President further appealed to Nigerians to choose hope over fear and take individual and collective responsibility for "building a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria of our dream".

Recounting efforts, infrastructures and policy decisions being made by his administration to set the economy on the path of recovery and stability within the last 13 months of governance, Tinubu identified his directive on the removal of Tariffs and other import duties on Food Commodities such as rice, wheat,maize, sorghum, drugs and other food items for the next 6 months, as a policy specifically targeted at ensuring a crash in the high cost of food in the country pending the time when the investments of government in "growing what we eat" via Agricultural grants, support and interventions already put in place by his administration will begin to manifest in the long run.

Tinubu however warned that his government would not fold its hands and allow people he described as "enemies of our democracy" to destroy the country and set it on fire for their selfish ends.

"To those who have taken advantage of undue advantage of this situation to threaten any section of this country, be warned: The law will catch up with you", the President warned.

Concluding his national broadcast, Tinubu said that "security operatives should continue to maintain peace, law and order" in the country adding that they should follow "necessary conventions on human rights, to which Nigeria is a signatory" in the course of discharging their constitutional duties of securing the lives and property of Nigerians.