THE #ENDSARS PROTESTS; A FUNDAMENTAL LESSON IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

I heavily grieve for those who have lost their lives or been injured during the period of these protests. My deepest sympathies go to their families and loved ones for none should have been made to pay such a dear price. My career as an active politician spans nearly three decades. In that time, I have seen many things as Nigeria has struggled, sometimes against itself, to undertake the often painful yet inexorable push toward democratic government accountable to, and protective of, the people.

Though this journey, I have traversed the landscape of human experience. Having been as a political prisoner during our struggle for democracy but also having the singular honour of serving this state and its people as governor, I have known highs and lows, seen both the good and the bad of things.

But the events of the past few days have been extraordinary in a most dire sense. Only time will tell if we have the collective wisdom and requisite compassion to learn the proper lessons from these events that we may yet steer toward a better, more just Nigeria. Despite the tumult we now see, I believe with all my heart that we will meet the current challenge.

Here, let me directly address the sharp point aimed against me. I have been falsely accused of ordering the reported deployment of soldiers against peaceful protesters that took place at Lekki on 20 October 2020. This allegation is a complete and terrible lie. I did not order this or any assault against anybody. I would never want such a vile thing to happen nor did I have any prior knowledge about this sad event. It is my firm belief that no one should be harassed, injured or possibly killed for doing what they have the constitutional right to do in making their contribution to a better, more equitable society.

As a political figure, I am accustomed to people attributing to me all manner of indiscretions of which I have no knowledge and in which I played no role. I have usually ignored such falsities as the cost of being in the public eye.

This time, it is different. The allegation now levied against me is that I called on soldiers to kill my own people. This allegation is the foulest of lies.

The use of strong force against any peaceful protesters is indefensible, completely outside the norms of a democratic society and progressive political culture to which I aspire and have devoted my public life. That people were angered by the reports of violence and death is acutely understandable.

Understandably outraged, people sought to hold someone accountable. For various reasons, I became the most available scapegoat. Some people don’t like me because they believe the false rumours uttered about me over the years. Some maligned my name because they hide ulterior motives and harbour unrequited political scores they intend to settle.

A week ago, such people tried to bring enmity between me and the state and federal governments by contending I was sponsoring the protests. When that did not work, they then sought to sow enmity between me and the people by saying I ordered soldiers to quash the very same protests they first accused me of organising.

My opponents have every right to oppose me politically but let them have the courage to do so in the open, above board and to employ facts not evil fiction in their efforts against me. They have no right to slander and defame anyone with the terrible and vile fabrications now cast at my feet.

Those who have decided to hate me will hate me regardless of the truth. Again, they have the right to think as they may and I am not troubled by their unfounded animus. Today, I speak not to them. I leave them to the workings of their own conscience.

Today, I speak to those who believe in the importance of, and want to know, the truth.

The slander aimed at me is based on the untruth that I own the toll gate concession. The hate mongers prevaricate that I ordered the Lekki assault because the protests had caused me to lose money due to the interruption of toll gate activity.

Minus this alleged ownership, the slander employed against me falls to the ground as a heavy untruth. I ask people to thoroughly investigate the matter of my alleged ownership of the toll gate. By seeking facts, instead of being swayed by gossip, you will find I have no ownership interest or involvement in the toll gate. Having no business interests in the operation, my income remains unchanged whether one or 100,000 vehicles pass through that gate.

At bottom, the toll gate is a public asset. Given what has happened, I would like to propose to government that the toll gate be left closed for an indefinite period. If it is reopened, revenues should be donated to the confirmed victims of the Lekki attack as well as to other identifiable victims of police brutality in Lagos. Let government use the money to compensate and take care of those who have lost life or limb in the struggle for all citizens to go about the quiet, peaceful enjoyment of life without fear of undue harassment at this or that checkpoint.

On the other hand, I am, indeed, a promoter and financial investor in the Nation newspaper and TVC. It was widely known and circulated through social media that certain malevolent elements were going to take advantage of the situation to attack the Nation newspaper facilities and TVC in Lagos.

The attackers came. Both facilities were significantly damaged. Although equipped with prior notice of the imminent trespass, I did not call any one to seek or request for the army or police to deploy let alone attack, kill, or injure those who razed and vandalized these properties. I did not want any bloodshed. These elements, mostly hirelings of my political opponents, wreaked their havoc and destroyed those buildings and facilities and I thank God that the employees of these two media institutions managed to escape largely unharmed.

There is a deeper truth involved here. Burned buildings and damaged equipment can be rebuilt or replaced. There is no adequate substitute for the loss of even a single human life. I am not one to encourage violence. I abhor it. Thus I did nothing that might endanger lives, even the lives of those who destroyed my properties.

Now, those who claim I ordered violence in Lekki must face the sheer illogic of their assertions. There is no rationale that can adequately explain why I would order soldiers to repel peaceful protesters from the toll gate where I have no financial interest, yet, choose to do nothing to protect my investments in the Nation and TVC.

Why would I be so moved as to instigate the army to attack peaceful, law-abiding people at the toll gate where I have no pecuniary stake, yet lift not a single finger to stop hired miscreants bent on setting fire to these important media investments?

The allegations against me make no sense because they are untrue. They are parented by those seeking to stoke and manipulate the people’s anger in order to advance political objectives that have nothing to do with the subject matter of the protests.

The good and creative people of Lagos have worked hard over the years to build it into the dynamic economic and cultural focal point it has become. Lagos has enjoyed over two decades of sustained, uninterrupted growth. No other place in Nigeria can stake that claim. Some people are unhappy with this. They seek to tear down what we have worked hard to build that they may reshape Lagos to fit their own more destructive image. Such people have taken advantage of the current situation and of the public’s passions to set in motion a plan the people would never support if they only knew what the destructive schemers actually had in mind.

Not only lives have been lost in Lagos and throughout Nigeria, but livelihoods have also been impaired. I have seen the destruction to businesses, shops and homes.

I empathise with those who have lost their businesses and residences through no fault of their own but because hurtful, destructive misanthropes took it upon themselves to use this moment to disguise their efforts to destroy and upend the prosperity and hope so many of us took so many years to build. This is not what the genuine protesters wanted and no one should blame them for this destruction. In this tense situation, we must be careful not to rush to conclusions and to make sure we ascertain the true facts that we not be deceived toward rash action that may prove to be against our own interests.

This is particularly true regarding the Lekki incident. Various players will promulgate different casualty numbers. At this moment, no conclusive figure has been ascertained. Although an investigation has been launched by the governor, a totally accurate picture of the events may never be known. I for one refuse to engage in futile speculation regarding the possible number of casualties for such talk misses the vital point that we all must recognize.

We strive for a more compassionate, progressive society. Thus, we must do more than measure injustice by the number of dead or wounded. Injustice is injustice regardless of the number of victims from whom blood is drawn.

Based on the facts that come out of a thorough investigation, government may need to amend the terms of engagement for deployment of military forces in instances of mostly peaceful civil disobedience and protests. Although one of our nation’s most respected institutions, the military is not adequately equipped and trained to deal with such situations. It is placing a burden on the military they are ill-suited to carry.

Moreover, the time has come to take the necessary legal actions to allow for the creation of state police and the recruitment and training of many more police officers. Such state-created forces should be based on the modern tenets of community policing and optimal relations and cooperation with local communities.

Measures such as these are needed to cure present gaps in how military and law enforcement treat the general public. These proposals are important and they do not hamstring proper law enforcement and security operations. We know there are criminal elements in society primed to harm people and seize property. We expect this of criminals. What is not expected is that people will be brutalized and scarred by those commissioned to protect and serve them. This anomaly must end.

Given all that has happened, I must stress the great theme that underlies this entire situation so that it is not obscured and its proper societal impact lost. The right to protest is more than integral to the democratic setting; It transcends any form of government. The following thought may seem incongruous – but the right to protest exists only where orderly society exists.

Because of my strong belief in the right to protest and my adherence to democratic ideals, I was among those who actively protested the annulment of the June 12 election. I eagerly joined and sometimes led multitudes who took to the streets to protest the singular injustice of that historic moment. We demanded the establishment of a new democracy in Nigeria. Those protests are a part of the reason we have democracy in Nigeria today. They laid the foundation for the youth today to protest and to call to the fore their grievances whenever our social or political institutions fail them in a material way.

Thus, I cannot not wax nostalgic about pro-democracy protests of the 1990s yet castigate those who today protest against any form of institutionalized brutality.

No democratically minded person can fault those who protests in this regard. No society, even the most democratic, is perfect. All nations suffer lapses that cause even their most respected institutions to fall short of their better ideals. However, our imperfection does not preclude improvement or reform. We must constantly put our institutions and government to the test that we may reshape ourselves into a better nation constantly improving the manner in which it treats its citizens. If we do not commit ourselves in this way, democracy may not long be ours. We must be frank in recognizing our societal ills as well as resolute in curing them. Sometimes progress comes one election at a time. Sometimes, one protest at a time.

It must stand as a maxim for any compassionate, sane society that innocent people should not die or be injured at the hands of law enforcement. Enough blood has been spilled; enough pain has been felt.

Yes, some in the police have lost their way by distorting their helpful mission into its opposite. This gross malpractice by a tainted minority must stop so that the bulk of good police officers may do their job properly, with the support and thanks of a grateful community. This cooperative, productive embrace between the people and their genuine police protectors cannot occur as long as some in uniform continue to serially abuse fellow Nigerians.

In this regard, I must say that the steps thus far taken by the government are constructive. SARS has been ended and further reform has been promised with tangible steps taken in that direction. However, much more needs to be done for there is valid evidence of recurrent brutality and violence. Indeed, this is why the protests began in the first instance.

We are in a complex situation where almost every step has political overtones. Among the protesters, there are many people who do not politically support either the state or federal governments. However, this should not be a determinative factor in how one views the protests. We must not allow subjective politics to taint our view of what is right when it comes to the exercise of the fundamental civil liberties that we should all hold dear. Partisan narrowness cannot be allowed to redefine our core precepts of justice and human rights. This matter transcends daily politics. It goes to the of our constitutional arrangement and love of the people. While others may play politics with this issue, those who care about the nation dare not.

Young Nigerians across the country have peacefully stated their case. The president has pledge reform and should be given reasonable time to achieve them. The protests have accomplished their primary objective. There is no question that more needs to done. To achieve further progress, however, will require greater dialogue between government and protest leaders. As has been the case with almost every successful protest in every nation, there comes the decisive moment where a protest movement must shift gears to from demonstrations in the streets to negotiations with government. The protests against brutality are nearing this new stage or perhaps have already entered it.

Protest leaders and their genuine companions must now be careful. If the protests become too protracted, those genuinely interested in combating police brutality stand in danger of losing control of the protests. The risk is that the protests degenerate into something starkly inferior to the noble cause initially pursued. If so, the protests may then become associated in the public mind with localized disruptions and serious inconveniences. Through no fault of their own, except not having adequately planned their strategic endgame, protesters might lose the moral high ground they now occupy.

Here, government must also be exceptionally restrained. The protesters have remained peaceful. What has happened is that petty criminals and political miscreants sponsored by those who seek to stir mayhem are misbehaving and sparking trouble on the outer fringes of the protests.

Police and law enforcement have an overriding responsibility to differentiate between protesters and criminal elements. No doubt, they must stop the criminals. However, it would be morally wrong and politically counterproductive to use the existence of this fringe criminal element as a pretext to checkmate genuine protests. While some may think this is a cunning way to short-circuit the protests, such misguided cleverness will only worsen matters, rendering discussions towards a satisfactory settlement more difficult.

The present situation clearly does nothing to profit me politically or otherwise. It has complicated matters for me because many people now wrongfully blame me for a violent incident in which I played no part. Still, I stand strongly behind the people of Nigeria and affirm their right to protest peacefully. Along with all well-meaning, patriotic Nigerians, I want to see an end to all forms of institutionalised brutality and I shall do my utmost to see that this humane objective is realised.

For, if these protests can generate meaningful reform, our youth will have achieved a compound national success. First, they would have ended the terrible matter of institutionalized police brutality. Second, Nigeria would have made an important accretion to our political culture whereby government listened to and acted on the recommendations of ordinary people protesting against the wrongs done them.

This would establish a healthy precedent. Yet such durable progress can be made only if government respects the protesters and protesters actively negotiate with government. No steps should be taken by government to curtail protest activity as the people have chosen this vehicle as their preferred way to interface with government on this issue.

Yes, protest leaders too must appreciate the concrete realities of this situation. Street protests cannot last indefinitely without degenerating into other serious problems that no one wants. You have gotten government’s ear and attention, use this moment to press your case.

The right to protest should be pacifically exercised and never abused; neither should it be feared or unduly curtailed. It is essential because it lends greater depth to the relationship between government and the governed. If we are to attain parity with older, more established democracies, we must accept protests as part of our national development. It is important that Nigeria get this situation right. The direction and pace of our democratic progress weighs in the balance as the entire world watches to see how we manage ourselves at this delicate moment.

An outburst by one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari, Zahra, is creating credibility problems for a viral post by a bank chief, which sought to give an impression that Covid-19 palliatives been looted were not hoarded.

Curiously, the post refers to a fifth column (a shadowy group operating within an organisation or government), a speculation that has been in the air for days without its members been named. Whispers have suggested the group is executing a parallel agenda to discredit the Federal Government by infiltrating and using the #EndSARS protests to achieve its goal.

The post, which remain unverified, reads: “Good afternoon Sigma Chief, Old Chiefs and Loyalists. As a no (number) of Sigmites may be aware of, I sit on the Steering Committee of the Private Sector Coalition Against Covid 19 christened (SC) CaCovid. The other members of the SC …. We set up the coalition to pull resources together to support the Government to combat Covid 19 pandemic. Having successfully provided health facilities, diagnostic kits and medications to all the states and Abuja, we realised that the pandemic has destroyed the economic power (whatever that was worth pre Covid) of most Nigerians. We decided to provide food to 1.7m most vulnerable families across the country and we put a substantial resources behind the initiative. The food items we intend to purchase included rice, pasta, noodles, gari, sugar and salt, etc. The challenge was how to purchase those items worth about N15bn without driving inflation. We had to contract this out to various manufacturers and that took time for them to deliver the goods to us. It was only in September and early October that we handed the goods over to the various state governments and FCT. Its therefore a fallacy that the State Governments or … have hoarded those foodstuffs.

As Sigmites it is important that we interrogate information received thoroughly before we share or comment on such information. Significant amount of misinformation are trending on SM (Social Media). We must be discerning and probing hence we join the fifth columnists in pushing our dear country on to the road to Kigali. I sincerely pray not

But The Punch reports says a daughter of the President, Zahra Buhari-Indimi says the discovery of food items and other COVID-19 palliatives in several warehouses across the country is evidence that her father, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), is not Nigeria’s problem.

Zahra said this on her Instagram Stories on Sunday.

She wrote, “Now that people confirmed that Buhari distributed enough palliatives nationwide, it is clear Buhari is not our problem.”

Thousands of Nigerians have in the last few days plundered warehouses in several states including Lagos, Plateau,  Osun, and Kwara in the wake of the #EndSARS protests.

In some instances, COVID-19 palliatives donated by the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 were found in private homes of politicians.

Some of the items include cartons of noodles, sacks of garri, and bags of rice, some of which had gone bad due to poor and prolonged storage.

In Osun State, the government said it was waiting for officials from Abuja to “commission” the goods hence the delay in distributing them while in Lagos, the Majority Leader of the House of Assembly, SOB Agunbiade, said he kept the palliatives in his Ikorodu home because he wanted to distribute them on his birthday.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives in warehouses in several states.

Additional report by The Punch

The British created the problem by giving some region so much advantage; this led to an ethnic struggle for limited resources, making it impossible for Nigeria to lead itself even after independence was granted and even until this moment. By Clever Advertising With the rise in secessionist agitations across the country, the duo of Barrister Monday Onyekachi Ubani and Dr. Austin Nweze have asserted that failure of leadership to deliver quality and people-focused development, and a weak structure of government, a quasi unitary system amongst other challenges, are responsible for the rise in the call to break up the country. Both agreed that since leadership has repeatedly failed, there was a need to restructure Nigeria to reduce the tendencies for secessionist movements which will further weaken the country, noting, however, that restructuring is necessary because successive governments have refused to govern in a manner that will ensure that citizens are confident about the future of the country. They spoke at a lecture under the theme ‘Discourse 2020: Nigeria’s independence and conflict of secessionist agitation in Africa’s largest democracy, some immutable lesion from globally collected history’ in Lagos. Ubani expressed serious concern over the failure of the current government to unite Nigerians across ethnic, tribal or religious lines saying that there is a need to continue to discuss the future of Nigeria especially with the renewed resurgence of separatists groups such as the Oduduwa Republic. Speaking further, he blamed the British who, he said, amalgamated Nigeria without taking into consideration ethnic, cultural, language, and overwhelming social differences. He said the British imperialists only focused on the economic gains that will emanate from the amalgamation of North and Southern protectorate, not minding the potential damage to the people affected.

“The British created the problem by giving some region so much advantage; this led to an ethnic struggle for limited resources, making it impossible for Nigeria to lead itself even after independence was granted and even until this moment. “The resultant crisis of difference of identities amounted to war, the Civil War. You will recall that it was the Northern region that first asked to opt-out of Nigeria. Nigeria has remained a fractured state. Without making Nigeria operate as a proper federal system, no matter who you elect as president of Nigeria, he will be a failure until we restructure” Ubani said. On his part, Dr. Nweze called for a business-friendly leader who will have the capacity to improve the economy and drive development; he said “throughout the history of Nigeria, we have not had anyone with sound business knowledge to rule this country, not even for once”. He said that the absence of a leader or president who has a good understanding of economic management is another reason why Nigeria remains a poor country despite the enormous human and material resources available. On the various plans formulated to engineer national development and tagged vision 2010, 2020 and now vision 2050, Ikem Ume-ezeoke who is the president of the Nigeria Peace Group decried the failure of national development planners and governments in the past to investigate why previous national vision programs failed. He said it was necessary to investigate why they failed because the idea to keep producing a national vision document without finding out why the previous program failed, in spite of the number of monies invested in them and the ‘noise’ accompanying the launch of such programs, is defeatist and regrettable. The Discourse 2020 is a forum that was put together on the platform of Nigeria Peace Group (NPG), otherwise known as the Centre for Peace Re-orientation and Human Development, to discuss burning national issues with a view to finding workable solutions that will promote peace, unity and economic prosperity. Hosted by Victor Ikem who is a public affair and policy analyst, the event had participants drawn from government, public, and private sector.

VANGUARD

In the Idu Industrial Estate, some residents of Gwagwa, Idu, Karmo, and surrounding neighbourhoods have gone into a looting spree, creating a scare in the Federal Capital City, in Abuja.

In Jabi District, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warehouse was looted after the security agents and civilian security guards were overwhelmed and run over.

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There is palpable fear that the looters and hoodlums may turn on residents once they find no warehouses to loot, as government appears helpless in the face of the attacks in Abuja and other states of the country.

A knowledgeable source disclosed that policemen and other security agents are reluctant to wield the big stick for fear of being singled out for persecution by local and International non-governmental agencies.

The looting started at the Government Secondary School Gwagwa, where there is said to be a Covid-19 palliative storehouse, and within hours spread to the Idu Industrial Estate, where looters broke into many warehouses of industries, whether they had Covid-19 palliatives or not.

Many factories and companies quickly shut down.

An eyewitness said he saw a mass of persons including many with motorcycles who loaded wares of all kinds on their heads and motorcycles.

Given the terrible scenario playing out in the country, manifested in rising insecurity, mass poverty, high corruption in government, gross official recklessness and near zero governance, the shooting of peaceful #EndSARS protesters in Lekki, Lagos state by security forces, are yet again unconscionable acts that portray Nigeria as barbaric and lawless. The premeditated nature of the attacks; the curfew, the threats, removal of cameras and contrived power outage also reflect the security deficit and incompetence on the part of relevant civilian and military authorities across the chain of command. This extra-judicial killing of unarmed citizens is a crime against humanity, made even more heinous when it is committed by security officers (charged with protecting lives and property) without provocation. Videos emerging from Tuesday night’s shooting showing images of young men and women, wrapped in Nigerian flags, soaked with blood are difficult to watch. It is just as well that the gruesome shooting has attracted global condemnation, with a towering babel of voices urging President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately order the arrest and prosecution of the officers involved. This blight on the toga of the country’s international image is an infamy that has become another sore on Nigeria. 

The attack on peaceful protesters is a new chapter in the emerging face of fascism with the Buhari administration and has far-reaching consequences for the future of Nigeria. Unconfirmed reports suggest at least ten people were killed with dozens of injured protesters in critical condition in hospital. Today, Lagos is on fire, and the shooting continued after angry demonstrators set fire to the BRT bus station at Oyingbo. Police responded with bullets. The National Ports Authority building at Marina was also set on fire; as was the TVC television headquarters, and several banks. The palace of the Oba of Lagos, the traditional leader of the city, was sacked, but amid the mayhem and bloodletting, one question remains unanswered: who ordered soldiers to open fire on unarmed protesters? The Nigerian army was quick to label as fake news, reports of demonstrators being killed despite many eye-witness reports. The identity of several officers said to be responsible for the attack have circulated on social media with the chief of Dodan barracks, then that of the Bonny barracks, accused of ordering the attack. 

Rightly or wrongly, some are pointing accusing fingers at former Lagos governor and APC national leader, Ahmed Bola Tinubu; who has denied any involvement; even as the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP engaged in a public shouting match and war of words over the sponsorship and killing of #EndSARS protesters. While the PDP charged President Buhari and the APC to take responsibility for the killing of peaceful, unarmed young protesters by military operatives, the APC accused PDP leaders of inciting and bankrolling the protesters and playing politics with the protests. Eminent personalities, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, have all condemned the Gestapo-like military crackdown.

The shooting also attracted reactions from the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres; former US President, Bill Clinton; former US Vice President and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden; UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Dominic Raab; President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana; the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; the European Union, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. They all expressed concern about the shooting of the protesters and called for restraint in the use of force. But the fact that President Buhari appealed for calm, without directly addressing Tuesday’s killing of unarmed protesters has fueled public anger and frustration, which continues to spillover on the streets of Nigerian cities. 

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) did not minced words in calling for Buhari’s resignation; and the investigation and trial of the President; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, as well as other possible accomplices, including Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for what the group said, amounted to genocide. The forum, in a statement jointly signed by its leaders – Chief Edwin Clark (South-south), Chief Ayo Adebanjo (South-west), Chief John Nwodo (South-east) and Dr. Pogu Bitrus (Middle Belt) – said it was devastated by the killing of the protesters with the kind of force that has yet to be seen even against Boko Haram terrorists by the federal government. In the statement titled: “Black Tuesday: Buhari and Co Must Pay for this Genocide,” the group called on Buhari to resign his office immediately.

The long-term effect of the tensed security situation on economic development is best imagined. On Wednesday, the stock market lost N113 billion as investors’ appetite, which has been high was dampened by uncertainty over the security situation in the country. It is common knowledge that foreign direct investment is sensitive to environments of insecurity. The terror in the land calls for soul-searching. In civilized countries worldwide, unauthorized or unlawful taking of another’s life is considered most heinous; and culprits are never allowed a respite until they are brought to justice. When soldiers who open fire and kill unarmed civilians are allowed to get away with the crime, it creates an encumbrance in the relationship between the law enforcement and the public, whose cooperation is essential for the successful discharge of law enforcement duties. It is imperative for the police and other security agencies to unravel the mystery of those who carried out the shooting, including the person who gave the order. It is equally important that all other murders of #EndSARS protesters across the country be thoroughly investigated and the offenders punished according to the law.

It is unfortunate that every now and then, Nigerians lose their lives in unexplainable circumstances involving security forces. Blatant human rights abuses in the country have enthroned a frightening culture of impunity, and earned the country a bad image. Basically, non-prosecution of the culprits, which ordinarily serves to deter others, is to blame for the frequency of these acts of state-sponsored terrorism against the Nigerian people. These sad and unfortunate incidents have been one too many. Beyond promises and appeals for calm, President Buhari must demonstrate sincerity of purpose and political will to address the killing of young unarmed protesters in the country. Owing to the gravity of the Lekki toll gate incident and the international condemnation it has attracted, and its implication for Nigeria’s global image and standing, Buhari should match words with action by finding the killer soldiers and holding them accountable soonest.

A situation where those entrusted with the duty of safeguarding the life of the citizenry turn around to kill young people with impunity is totally condemnable and unacceptable. Security operatives should learn not to take laws into their hands to kill people, no matter the provocation. They are supposed to be trained officers who should abide by the laws of the land. If the peaceful protesters who blocked the Lekki tollgate were deemed to have broken the law, they should have been arrested. The courts are there to prosecute offenders. When those who are supposed to maintain law and order become the law breakers, it is a sign that the society has broken down.

Nigeria is the paradox of a nation endowed with abundant human and material resources, yet majority of its citizens are trapped in poverty. Nigeria is rich but the people are impoverished by their leaders. Buffeted though by a myriad of woes – rising insecurity, massive unemployment, a stagnant economy, a corrupted judiciary, decaying national infrastructure, a manipulative ruling class steeped in corruption, terrorism, escalation of kidnapping and armed robbery, declining educational and healthcare delivery, a self-serving political class; Nigeria remains a tinderbox of profound economic and social grievances; hence, the #EndSARS demonstrations has easily snowballed from anger over police brutality to broader demands. A nation may be awash with corruption and official malfeasance. It may even be tottering on the brink of collapse. But the #EndSARS protests have shown that the youths of Nigeria can still dream dreams. The youths believe Nigeria can rise to new heights and regain her dignity, and be made to work for the benefit of everyone. It only takes sacrifice, discipline, determination, focus, commitment, integrity, and visionary, selfless leadership.

Throughout history, massacres have certainly turned political tides. But it is hard to predict the future direction of the #EndSARS protests. It is also hard to see the massacre silencing protesters – in the era of social media; these gory images will always go viral and spark global outrage. Some will be looking to recent lessons from Algeria and Sudan where slowly-building protests climaxed into weeks of pressure from a broad societal coalition, which ultimately forced changed at the top. And this raises the question: Is this a turning point for Nigeria when a generation stood up and said enough is enough?

Pa Rueben Fasoranti, leader of Afenifere, the Pan-Yoruba Socio-political organization, has, on behalf of the body denied involvement in a viral video which threatened the Igbo to quit Yoruba land.

Afenifere said it has no affiliation whatsoever with the initiator of the quit order which gave the Igbos 48 hours ultimatum to leave the South West region.

Amid the tension in the country which was occasioned by series of violent protests, a UK based Nigerian with the name Adeyinka Grandson had in a viral video on social media issued a quit notice for some nationals especially the Igbo to vacate Yoruba Land, a situation which has continued to generate reactions across board.

Afenifere, in a statement personally signed by its National leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, Ondo State capital disowned the alleged quit notice.

The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a Whatsapp video now going viral, purportedly issued by one Adeyinka Grandson or his representative, giving a 48-hour ultimatum ending on Sunday, October 25, 2020 for some Nigerian nationals, especially the Igbo, to quit Yorubaland.

“Most embarrassing to me as Afenifere Leader was that the young man who made the announcement kicked off with the well-known tune of Afenifere anthem, thus giving the impression that it was an Afenifere initiative.

“This is to say that we do not know anything about the quit order nor are we in any way connected with its issuance or the initiators.

“For the time being, in addition to our other releases, let us all maintain peace.”

ABUJA – There is tension in Mabushi community in Abuja as a police officer on Saturday allegedly shot dead a colleague and also killed himself.

It was learnt that the trigger-happy officer, who was attached to one of the private residences in the area, was exchanging friendly banters with the dead colleague, who was also attached to a construction site around the same environment, before the sad incident.

An eyewitness, a lady, who sells snacks and drinks opposite the scene of the incident, said that both dead officers were heard talking about the ongoing nationwide protest, and how civilians were attacking police personnel and burning stations.

The lady, who was visibly terrified, said she narrowly escaped the bullet while she was serving one of the site workers snacks.

According to her, the officer who just finished consuming some doses of “agbo”, a local alcoholic herbal mixture, was boasting that he could not hold a gun and be disarmed by anybody, and all of a sudden, pulled the trigger shot his colleague on the head, and when he saw the lifeless body on the ground, he turned the gun on himself and killed himself.

She noted that while she was lucky to have escaped unhurt, one of the site workers who rushed out in a state of confusion when the first shoot was heard, was seriously injured by the second bullet.

As at the time our correspondent visited the scene the dead bodies had been evacuated and the injured taken to an undisclosed hospital.

Officers at Mabushi Police Station, who said the Divisional Police Officer was not available to attend to our correspondent’s inquiry, did not deny or confirm the incident. Attempts to get reaction from the FCT Command Public Relations Officer were also not successful. (New Telegraph)

By GARBA MUHAMMAD, KadunaMohammed Ibraheem Zakzaky, son of Ibraheem Zakzaky, the leader of Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), has dispelled rumours of the death of his father in prison.Mohammed, while responding to the rumour in a statement Saturday evening said:“This morning, I began to receive calls from concerned people, about a rumour currently circulating that my father is either critically ill or worse. Because of this I contacted the prison authorities and they allowed us to go and see them. In fact I just left less than an hour ago.“While my father does indeed suffer from a number of potentially life threatening health challenges due to his injuries and his imprisonment, none of that is new. The rumors are simply just rumours.“It must be made very clear that this rumour seems to be an intentional attempt to cause unrest or to exploit the current situation in the country in an attempt to disturb the peace and sow chaos. Which has never been and will never be my father’s way or that of his supporters.