By Emmanuel Elebeke & Favour Ulebor

Abuja—former Chairman of Governing Council of National Human Rights Commission,  Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, yesterday justified the anti-Buhari protest staged across the country last week, saying he joined to register his disappointment on the failure of some government personnel who ought to have shown empathy to millions of suffering Nigerians while they lavish in affluence.

Prof. Odinkalu gave revelation at the formal commissioning of the Human Rights Radio, 101.1 Freedom FM (aka) Berekete Radio in Abuja.

Contrary to the allegation that the protesters were paid to protest, Prof. Odinkalu said he was neither a politician nor a member of a political party and could not have been paid to protest against the inability of government at every level to identify with the suffering masses of Nigeria through their ostentatious living.

“Government has to listen to us when we cry. Last week, we protested and some people said we were given money. I don’t belong to any party but I will always support my country because I have only one country.

“We deserve empathy from government. We are not expecting magic from government because it is difficult to turn this country around. We want to see a government that will say we understand what you are going through.

“I don’t want to see a Governor that is going in a convoy of 12 cars when he cannot pay salaries or pension, I want to    see a minister who will reduce his convoy to two cars, I don’t want see a judge who is living in a mansion with flood light, when the people are suffering.