#EndSARS: Hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives by states ‘contributed to unrest’

The Leadership for Equity and Development Initiative (LEDI), a think tank organisation, says the “hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives” by states contributed to the escalation of unrest during the #EndSARS protest.

In a statement on Tuesday, Ernest Aniche, the group’s chairman, and Emeka Iloh, its secretary, LEDI said the #EndSARS protest is a metaphor to demand good governance and accountability from political leaders.

While commiserating with the families who lost loved ones in the protest, the think tank condemned the use of force on peaceful protesters across the country.

“The protesters conducted themselves with the highest level of decorum, maturity and sense of purpose. This #EndSARS became a metaphor for demands for good governance and accountability on those entrusted with governance at all levels,” LEDI said.

“The delay by some state governments to distribute the CA-COVID-19 palliatives to the masses is another factor that enabled the escalation of youth restiveness towards carting away the palliative materials from warehouses.

“The action and intent by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) to censor the reportage of the protest. Any attempt to limit press freedom is an attempt to derail our democracy.

“We urge the Police and other security agencies to resume back fully to their constitutional duties of protecting lives and properties, and law enforcement, in order to reduce or forestall the ongoing criminal activities of robbing and harassment of innocent citizens, and lawlessness that are becoming rampant daily in the last few days.”

LEDI is a not-for-profit think tank organisation committed to inclusiveness, justice, rights-based approach, gender balance, geo-political equities, and equal opportunities in the society.