Amnesty International has issued a strong condemnation of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun’s recent remarks, in which he dismissed Nigerian protesters as “sore losers.”
The governor’s comments, made during a Friday interview on Channels Television, have sparked outrage among human rights organizations and the general public.
Governor Abiodun’s statement, “Nigerians are sore losers,” has been seen as a reckless and insensitive reduction of the protesters’ concerns about hunger and deep poverty to mere political dissatisfaction.
Amnesty International emphasised that the protests are not politically motivated, as the governor suggested, but are a desperate cry for a better life and government accountability.
In Borno State, four persons were killed and curfews were declared in some states in the North.
The #EndBadGovernance protests, which began on August 1, have been driven by widespread discontent over economic hardship and government policies.
The demonstrations have seen thousands take to the streets, demanding government action to address the high cost of living and other socio-economic issues.
Several incidents of violence, including deaths and looting, have marred the protests, exacerbating the already tense situation and leading to calls for the protests to end.
The South East and South West have largely witnessed peaceful rallies.
Amnesty International’s statement criticized Nigerian government officials and politicians for their harmful rhetoric aimed at delegitimizing peaceful protests and protesters.
Instead of making inflammatory remarks, the organization urged leaders to listen to critics and focus on improving the rapidly declining living standards of Nigerians.
Governor Abiodun characterized the ongoing demonstrations as politically driven attempts to force a regime change.
He suggested that political opponents, dissatisfied with the outcome of the recent presidential election, which saw Bola Ahmed Tinubu emerge victorious, are fueling the protests.
“He [Tinubu] majorly won that election and that shows that those who want him to be president are far more than those who did not want him,” Abiodun stated.
He added, “The problem we have today is that Nigerians are sore losers. Rather than decide that if you want a regime change, wait till 2027. Don’t begin to sponsor faceless, leaderless protests under the guise of dissatisfaction.”
The protests have already led to almost 20 deaths, looting, and property destruction in various states.
Governor Abiodun acknowledged the global nature of economic challenges, noting that similar protests have occurred in other countries.
“There was a protest in Ghana yesterday and in the UK today. The medicine for a headache is not to cut off the head,” he remarked.
