During an interview with *Saturday Tribune*, Gani Adams was confronted with remarks that he should not have criticized Tinubu, a fellow Yoruba man, in such a manner. In response, Adams defended his position, emphasizing that as a Yoruba leader, his duty is to speak up against any wrongdoing, regardless of ethnic ties. He pointed out that remaining silent on Tinubu’s governance could damage his credibility in the future. “If I stay silent now and another tribe assumes power in four or eight years, my voice will lose its significance,” Adams explained, stressing that Nigerians would not take him seriously if he remained silent during Tinubu’s tenure.
Adams was further questioned about his concerns over the government’s response to recent protests against hunger in the country. In his reply, he mentioned that while he did not know most of the protesters personally, he listened to their demands. He only recognized Omoyele Sowore, a known activist with whom he has had a strained relationship for over two decades, and Ebun Adegboruwa, his lawyer. Despite this, Adams sympathized with the protesters’ plight, agreeing that their 10 or 12 demands were valid and reflective of Nigeria’s needs.
He went on to criticize the government’s heavy-handed approach to the protests, claiming that over 3,000 people were arrested. According to Adams, the authorities, unsure of what charges to file, accused the protesters of treason and terrorism. He questioned the rationale behind such charges, highlighting the absurdity of labeling peaceful protesters as terrorists.
“If a protester with a placard is charged with terrorism, what do you charge Boko Haram with? What about the terrorists in Zamfara State who extort money from communities every month?” Adams asked, pointing to the inconsistency in the government’s handling of different forms of unrest across the country.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
