Oby Ezekwesili Writes Tinubu, Calls for Release and Compensation of Detained Minors

In an open letter to President Bola Tinubu, former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili condemned the Nigerian government for its alleged mistreatment of minors involved in recent #EndBadGovernance protests. 

Ezekwesili accused the administration of punishing citizens who dare to speak out against its policies and highlighted the prosecution of children as evidence of “repressive governance.”

“Here is the sordid evidence of the (Nigerian government) punishing your citizens for daring to tell you the truth of #BadGovernance by your administration,” Ezekwesili wrote.

She added that genuine leadership requires owning and addressing problems rather than denying them. 

“No one can ever solve a problem they deny and refuse to own,” she asserted.

Ezekwesili emphasized that the call to end bad governance resonates with “an overwhelming majority” of Nigerians, including young citizens. 

She questioned how many citizens the government could feasibly detain for expressing their grievances, challenging the administration’s approach. 

“No ruler has ever won against their people forever.

“Note that I wrote ruler and not leader. The repressive class of politicians in Nigeria are not leaders.” she cautioned.

Expressing concern over what she described as a “corrupted capture” of Nigeria’s judiciary, Ezekwesili argued that the prosecution of the minors reflects a broader erosion of justice. 

She urged the government to “stop the wicked prosecution of these minors immediately” and called for their release and return to their families. 

Furthermore, she insisted on compensation for the physical, mental, and emotional harm caused to the detained children, denouncing the government’s alleged abuse of state power.

“When those children came out to protest asking you to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, they were telling you the ‘Truth and nothing but the Truth,’” Ezekwesili noted. 

She also charged the government to pay attention to the voices of Nigerians, especially those struggling amid economic challenges.

“Ebi npawa – we are hungry,” she quoted, concluding with a reminder that “Today is not Forever.”