Why Nigerians Should Have a Re-Think on ENDSARS Anniversary Celebrations/Protests- Elder George Okoye
Lagosreporter
Posted On October 20, 2021
Today, www.csomedia.com.ng Editor, EMMANUEL UDOM, who hit Lagos streets to monitor the first anniversary celebrations/ protests of ENDSARS, met ELDER GEORGE OKOYE, Coordinator, Police Public Relations Committee, PCRC, AREA F Police Command, Ikeja and Secretary for Makinde Police Division, at Oshiodi bus-stop, while driving to Apapa for his legitimate business.
Elder Okoye bared his mind on the ENDSARS anniversary celebrations/protests, the role of government, police and other security agencies as well as the masses on this at this point in time.
Sir, what is your take on the first year celebrations of ENDSARS?
Well, I do not subscribe to the first year celebrations/ protests by ENDSARS. Recall that the ENDSARS protests that occurred last year had tremendous impact on the country and Nigerians.
The ENDSARS organisers shut down the country and the federal government as well as the police allowed the protests until it was hijacked by hoodlums.
The FG agreed to the demands of the protesters, even though properties worth billions in local and foreign currencies were destroyed, people killed and there was tension in the country.
So, should we celebrate ENDSARS at this point in time?
No, because the truth is that some so-called activists, ENDSARS sponsors, have selfish, personal and self-centered reasons why they are calling for the celebrations.
Secondly, I am not speaking for government, but you and I know that the ENDSARS protesters made demands which were accepted by the government.
Therefore, my humble opinion is that we should allow people to rest and recover from the protests of last year. We can act as watchdogs to government at various levels and hold them accountable to the people, say every five years.
Also, celebrating ENDSARS every year will result in the whole arrangement losing values, as people are more concerned for now with survivals. It is like this ENDSARS thing has now become one big business for some people out there.
Femi Falana, the radical lawyer and senior advocate of Nigeria accused the government and its agents of sponsoring thugs to disrupt the ENDSARS protests last year. What are your views on these?
Falana may be right or wrong. Remember, he is a lawyer. But, at this point in time there are accusations and counter-accusations flying all over the places on this ENDSARS issue, by various persons, groups, etc.
So, what is the way forward here?
As I said earlier, during the ENDSARS protests last year, properties worth billions of naira were destroyed, people killed. I am the secretary of Makinde Police Station PCRC. Before the protests, we the members have contributed millions of naira to build the PCRC secretariat. We bought tiles, doors valued at N75, 000 each, 18 sliding windows, at N25, 000 each. These items were to be used to do the finishing for the building, only for the items to be carted away.
Dialogue, not protest or confrontation is the way out at this point in time. Nigerian youths should think in this direction and not allow themselves to get involved with people who are hell bent on causing more tension in our country.
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