Flags dipped in the blood of nonviolent protesters

Amidst despondency, sleeplessness and anguish, I am compelled to speak from my pierced-heart, through my fingers. I had an unusual long night as an effect of the needless killing of some of our best youths(at the Lekki Toll Gate) for protesting nonviolently, pressing home their demands as legitimate citizens of our greatly valued country. Now, truth be told, since the birth of Nigeria, we have never witnessed a protest as that of “ENDSARS protest.”

“ENDSARS protest” is a clear-cut departure from the norm. Everyone involved has been very disciplined, accountable, coordinated and organized. At the end of each day, they would clean up everywhere protest is held. They prayed and played together, shared food, water and drinks amongst themselves. They were doing everything as one man. They were of one voice and language!

Their sense of purpose made them sleep overnight at designated locations, nationwide. A unique protest of leaders! They are all leaders, without breaking ranks. What I have chosen christen—a many-membered move. This has made it impossible for the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to know how to stop them. Before, once you identify the leaders and either bribe or jail them, the protests would come to an end, but this one is obviously different.

And why have they remained on the streets for days? They do not believe in the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and you cannot blame them. They know that the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) only makes(empty) promises without redeeming them. And each time the FGN sets up a panel on an issue, it is because it does not want to do nothing about it.

There is nothing our purpose-driven-youths are agitating for that varied panels have not been set on before. Nigeria does not need new panels, wasting our scarce resources and those in the corridors of power know this stark-naked-truth. There are too many reports of different panels on many tables, gathering dust. I advise PMB to check his table and some other relevant tables for some relevant reports and act now! The youths want him to make some decisive decisions. Once they see the seriousness of the Federal Government of Nigeria, I can assure you that the following day, they will leave our streets. Our people are not asking for much and they are not difficult to govern. My fellow citizens are very patient folks. But when they are taken for granted for too long a time and they get angry, it is usually very hard to control them.

Back to the issue for penning this piece, it is important that I state very clearly here that firing live bullets at nonviolent youths who were protesting for their constitutional rights is unacceptable and totally condemned by all and sundry. And the question on the lips of everyone is; who gave the order to fire live bullets at nonviolent protesters? Also, what’s the rationale behind sending soldiers out for their annual “Operation Crocodile Smile” at this crucial time in the life of our nation? Another question on the lips of everyone in Nigeria is; who ordered for security cameras to be removed and streetlights at the Lekki Toll Gate to be switched off? Nigerians await answers to these questions from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

After some of our brilliant youths were shot by some trigger happy men, everyone became enraged in Nigeria. Curses were dropping like rainwaters. And instead of the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to explore the opportunity he had to address Lagosians to put an end to the crisis we have found ourselves in, he ended up escalating it. If I were with Sanwo Olu before making that broadcast, I would have told him to simply tell Lagos-folks that he failed to protect them and humbly apologize to them. He would not be the first leader to do this and he would not be the last. It is only in this part of the world that public servants behave as if they are above mistakes and they think apologizing demean and degrade them.

Lastly, now that we are in a deep crisis as an effect of the ongoing arson and killings in Lagos and across our nation, I counsel that Mr. President humbly make these three (3)traditional leaders to address Nigerians on all our television stations, appealing to our people to please calm down, so that peace can reign again in our land: One, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, Ooni of the Yoruba Kingdom of Ile Ife. Two, the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare 11. Three, Muhammadu Sa’ ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto. I do know that our people respect a lot their traditional rulers, especially the ones with honor and integrity. It is almost too late for PMB to address our people. I doubt if they want to hear him speak to them again. May God help Buhari to be able to paddle the canoe of the Federal Republic of Nigeria out of the avoidable quagmire that we have found ourselves!