I Was Part Of Lots Of Protests But…..— Tinubu Reveals
President Bola Tinubu has admitted being part of different protests but without violence.
The President said this when he received Letter of Credence from the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills Jr. at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He emphasized the importance of sustaining democracy and its institutions, noting that protests are an integral part of democracy, but that no government will condone demonstrations that lead to the destruction of lives and property.
The President said, “Our relationship with America is rich. We believe in democracy and freedom. Some of your predecessors worked hard during our transition to democracy, and we remember the likes of Ambassador Howard Jeter.
”We look forward to Nigeria and the United States continuously working to expand cooperation on shared goals and democratic values.
”During the military era, we made our voices heard against dictatorship, and I was part of the group that engaged in peaceful protests without resorting to the destruction of property. We have worked hard to ensure 25 years of unbroken democracy and I will continue to maintain this democracy.”
The President said in as much as he believes that demonstrations are part of democracy, “we will never encourage any protests that lead to the destruction of lives and property:”.
Welcoming the U.S. State Department’s acknowledgement of Nigeria’s strategic role on the continent as Africa’s largest democracy, President Tinubu called on the U.S. government to pay more attention to Africa.
