Nigerians are used to being promised certain things and not having it delivered to them in time or at all. The infamous police unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has been disbanded several times over the years, yet they’ve continued to dish out violence and other horrendous activities to Nigerians.

In 2017, 18 and 19, respectively, several authorities had issued formal statements placing a ban on the unit and still in 2020, Nigerians were still riddled with their vices. As a result, the #EndSARS protest sprung up, demanding the disbandment of the unit. Soon after the Inspector General of the police, Mohammed Adamu announced the dissolution of the infamous police group. But the protesters were not convinced, hence the continued #EndSARS protests.

The protest that initially sought to put an end to police brutality, injustices and extra-judicial killings by the police at large, progressed to address other faulty aspects of Nigeria especially bad leadership and policies that have made some Nigerians poorer and others richer. Thirteen days into the protests, many politicians and government officials have used various means to urge protesters to go back to their lives; giving the government another chance to address the issues.

In another episode of ‘protesters, stop protesting’, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, commended the efforts of protesters, faulted those who spoke against it and as expected, asked the youths to go back home and let the government handle things. In a Twitter thread, the famous politician stated that the protest is very justifiable but has also affected Nigeria a lot. He commended the level of organisation of the protest and tagged it as a tool that shows the strength in Nigeria’s democracy.

24. Finally, I also strongly appeal to the protesters – YOU HAVE MADE YOUR POINT. GOVERNMENT HAS MADE ITS COMMITMENT TO YOU. PLEASE, PLEASE AND PLEASE, CALL OFF THE PROTESTS. GIVE GOVERNMENT A CHANCE TO IMPLEMENT YOUR DEMANDS. GOD BLESS YOU. @jidesanwoolu @ekometa @tunderahmanu

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) October 19, 2020

The thread which was numbered with 24 points went further to commend religious leaders and the Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his proactive measures in setting up a panel to investigate violations perpetrated by the police. However, Tinubu further stated that protesters must admit that the president has “acted with commendable dispatch by not only scrapping SARS but also accepting the five-point demand that triggered the protests.” Further stating that it would only be fair for the youths to call off the protests and give the regime a chance to implement the reforms they had demanded.

Maybe if Tinubu kept his message at just commending the youths and religious leaders along with the Governor of Lagos, Nigerians wouldn’t have reacted the way they did.

Here are a few reactions:

Tinubu has been denied profit from Lekki Toll Gate from close to 2 weeks that is why he's playing the card that richmen also cry.This isn't a democracy, it's an Oligarchy. This man is a symbol of the ills of it. Tinubu is the Oga of them all of a corrupt Government. #EndSARS

— A LIGHT ❤ #EndSARS (@RealTambou) October 20, 2020

Ordinary Lekki toll gate. Tinubu is dropping thread!!! #EndSARS

— BrHoE (@Ayokasz) October 20, 2020

Yesterday will go down in history as the day Tinubu downloaded Twitter because we made him lose a week of toll gate’s money

— AJ | Adonai #EndSARS (@mrmanheree) October 20, 2020

Bro don't forget you said this where are the promises? Are we swimming in fuel now or fuel is swimming in where is the money abi u na don embezzle am? Na ur work b dat pic.twitter.com/kYqCsH9SEK

— Tony kayus (@Tonykayus1) October 19, 2020

Many Nigerians reacting to his thread suggested that he was only concerned about his loss due to the protesters closing down the Lekki-Tollgate, which many believe he gets a daily profit share. Again, Nigerians are used to promise-and-fail leaders, and it would take more than a Twitter thread to deter them from this movement. If indeed Tinubu is running at a loss, he should understand that everyone is sacrificing during this period and some Nigerians have been at a loss longer than himself.