The Nigerian government has compared the blockade by truckers in Canada protesting COVID-19 mandates and restrictions to the 2020 #EndSARS protest that rocked major cities in Nigeria.
Speaking through the minister of information and culture, Lai Mohammed, the federal government accused the Canadian government of double standards as they called for an end to the blockade caused by the truckers.
“Recall, gentlemen, that during the EndSars protest, which culminated in the blockage of public roads and massive destruction of government and private property, Canada was one of the countries that spoke out in support of the protesters,” Mr Mohammed said.
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He added that the Nigerian government was not gloating over the unfortunate development in Canada but only calling attention to the double standard involved in the way protesters deemed to be violent are perceived in Nigeria and in the West.
Mr Mohammed in a direct attack on media houses and journalists who extensively reported the #EndSARS protest, said: “I am sure you journalists are watching with keen interest the events unfolding in Canada, where truckers are protesting over Covid-19 vaccine mandates and other Covid-19 restrictions.”
In an attempt to compare both events, Mr Mohammed said “those who referred to the hoodlums who destroyed public and private property in Nigeria under the guise of EndSars as peaceful protesters have tagged similar protesters in their own countries as insurrectionists and terrorists. This glaring double standard should not be lost on all Nigerians”.
