EndSARS: Count me out, I’m not behind protest – Tinubu

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Bola Tinubu has denied report linking him as one of the sponsors of the End SARS protest.

Massive protest over police brutality, killings and extortion have hit Nigerian cities for over a week now.

Citizens expressing their displeasure with the Nigerian government poor handling of the situation have been marching to and occupying different key locations in the country, where they converge for several hours.

In a statement on Saturday, Tinubu, through his spokesman, Tunde Rahman, insisted that he could not sponsor a protest that is stifling the economy of Lagos.

Part of the statement read: “Asiwaju Tinubu could not have sponsored the #EndSARS protest that has blocked one of the main entries into and out of Lagos and one of the economic arteries of the Lagos State Government. He could also not have sponsored such a protest where he too has been labeled a target by the organizers.”

The statement further made it clear that Tinubu “believes in the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression, assembly and protest where and when necessary”.

Tinubu, who was governor of Lagos for eight years, however maintained it is “now time for our youths to wait, exercise restraint for dialogue and reform to commence.”

“Whereas Asiwaju Tinubu believes in the right of Nigerians to freedom of expression, assembly, and protest where and when necessary, he has always canvassed the need for people to explore peaceful channels to ventilate their views and demands.

“Like most Nigerians, Asiwaju believes that SARS’ brutality and untoward conduct against innocent youths and other Nigerians have gone on for too long and that security outfit ought to be disbanded as demanded by the protesters.”

Recall that Nigerian youths have been protesting against police brutality for more than a week now.

The protest had led to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, unit of the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.