By Charles Igwe
At a recent event organized by the Christian Youth for Peace and Development Initiative in Abuja, His Eminence John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Emeritus Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, provided insights into the motivations behind the #EndBadGovernance protests. Cardinal Onaiyekan clarified that the demonstrations were not aimed at ending President Bola Tinubu’s administration but were a call for better governance across Nigeria.
Cardinal Onaiyekan emphasized that the protests, which saw Nigerian youths taking to the streets in large numbers, were not an attack on any individual or government. “The 10 days of #EndBadGovernance protests saw the young people coming out in large numbers. From my own opinion, they were not coming out to insult anybody. They didn’t say that they were ending Tinubu’s government. They simply said they want to end bad governance. Is there anything wrong with that?” he stated, stressing the legitimacy of the protesters’ demands.
He further noted that there is a widespread consensus on the need for improved governance and management in Nigeria, underscoring the shared desire for national progress.
Addressing the matter of patience among the youth, Cardinal Onaiyekan acknowledged their sense of urgency and responded to President Tinubu’s call for patience. He reflected on the impatience of youth, suggesting that it is a natural and necessary trait for driving change. “I’m not sure whether he was very patient when he was 30 years old. He wasn’t patient. The young people cannot be patient, but they should not be patient. Because if they are patient, they will just sit down and do nothing,” Cardinal Onaiyekan remarked.
His comments highlight a broader understanding of the youth’s role in advocating for better governance, and the importance of their active participation in shaping the future of Nigeria.
