October 20, 2020 witnessed the turning point of a peaceful protest nicknamed #ENDSARS which was started in Nigeria in 2017 by the twitter community as a campaign to stop police brutality in Nigeria as executed by officials of SARS, especially against Nigerian youths. SARS which stands for Special Anti – Robbery Squad was a unit in Nigerian police known for its notorious abuses – killings, assaults, harassment and lack of freedom of expressions.
On this fateful day at Lekki Toll gate in Lagos State, the Nigerian Army opened fire on unarmed Nigerian youths who were peacefully protesting against the brutality of SARS officials. Many were killed while many sustained different degrees of injuries. The shooting at Lekki Toll gate triggered spontaneous and simultaneous demonstrations in different States and cities in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the peaceful demonstrations became hijacked by miscreants.
It was evidently clear that the insensitivity of government at both National and State levels where Nigerian Army went against every democratic principle by using live ammunition against unarmed citizens, coupled with the discovery of CACOVID palliatives meant to be distributed to Nigerians to ameliorate the adverse effects of COVID – 19 pandemic that were hoarded in different government and private ware houses across the federation prompted the hijack of the peaceful protest by the miscreants.
It is against this backdrop that Hon Amb Vincent Ike Oligbo, a security expert, while speaking to news writers cautioned political leaders against taking the youths and Nigerians in general for granted. Ignoring a movement that started since 2017 was a gross mistake by the government and hoarding of palliatives was the height of irresponsibility and rascality, he said.
The Anambra born politician who’s a frontline aspirant for Anambra 2021 gubernatorial election under the aegis of Peoples Democratic Party PDP, urged the youths to eschew violence, stop vandalization of both private and public properties, toe the part of peace and embrace dialogue especially now that the government has waken up from its slumber and ready to listen to their demands.
Speaking further, Oligbo urged political leaders and office holders across the Nation to do a rethink and consider the bad name Nigeria has all over the world because of bad governance and corruption.
He reiterated his desire to see immediate reconstruction of Nigeria’s huge swathe of dilapidated roads and lack of other basic infrastructures needed to revamp the economy from the rampaging COVID – 19 pandemic.
The Lawyer turned business man cum politician further charged the President, Muhammad Buhari to listen to the voice of reason and steer course to start improving basic life for the youths and other Nigerian citizens.
