Africa Press-Nigeria:
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has faced a jihadist insurgency and economic recession, but youth protests that have spiralled into widespread unrest appear to be his biggest challenge yet.
The 77-year-old former military ruler has drawn fierce criticism for his slow response as the shooting of demonstrators unleashed chaos in Africa’s largest city Lagos.
Evidence that his security forces gunned down peaceful protesters on Tuesday sparked fury at home and international outrage — but it took Buhari two days to make a public statement.
When he did speak he was uncompromising as he called for an end to protests, shrugged off condemnation from abroad and failed to even mention the shooting of demonstrators.
“Buhari has been aloof and tone deaf and lacking in empathy, failing to react to something that has created such an outcry,” said Idayat Hassan, director of the Centre for Democracy and Development in Abuja.
“He did not speak to the sombre mood of the nation and reassure the citizens.”
– ‘Military ruler’s playbook’ –
Protests erupted on October 8 over abuses by the police’s loathed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) with thousands of mainly young demonstrators pouring onto the streets.
Buhari scrapped the unit and vowed to reform law enforcement but the movement kept growing and began demanding better governance.
The authorities appeared to be caught flat-footed as their promises failed to stem an outpouring of grievances at the ruling elite.
In the tinderbox of poverty and desperation of modern Nigeria, violence soon flared and the deadly crackdown came.
The protests laid bare the gulf between Nigeria’s elderly leadership — personified by the president — and younger generations desperate for a greater say.
“This is the most important moment in Nigeria’s history,” megastar singer Burna Boy told Britain’s Sky News.
“The youth of the largest black nation in the world came together and decided enough is enough.”
Buhari’s first taste of power came before many of those who joined the recent protests were born.
In 1983 as a major-general he spearheaded a coup that overthrew democratically elected president Shehu Shagari.
