As the #EndSARS brutality protests continue to gather momentum, there is suspicion that either the protests being held across the country are politically motivated or have a tacit support of some influential Nigerians who want to cash in on the situation for their own political benefit.
The proponents of this theory agree that, government has already yielded to the protesters’ demand, scrapped the notorious police unit and replaced it with a Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).
Also, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu has announced the dismissal of over 37 members of the disbanded SARS who were found guilty. Further to the IG directives, the dissolved SARS officers are to report to the force headquarters and undergo psychologist test to ascertain their mental fitness.
Notwithstanding this assurance from the IGP and an apology tendered by the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, it has fallen on deaf ears of the Nigerian protesting youths.
The protest has continued unabated and spread like wild fire across the country and with attendant violence.
It seems the ongoing protest goes beyond the SARS brutality. Any aggrieved party that took up our street protesting must have an objective for doing so.
In 2012, the #occupy Nigeria protest was borne out of the need for government to maintain fuel subsidy which it contemplated removing. The protesters demanded that government should not abolish subsidy, but instead check the corruption bedeviling the subsidy regime.
Although, some opposition politicians took part in the protest which raised question of its sincerity, it quickly ended when government agreed to probe the subsidy spending.
I think the present protesters have already registered their displeasure or grievances to the government on the activities of defunct SARS which border on extra judicial killings, extortion and human right abuses. Interestingly, government has agreed to their request and bowed to pressure by dissolving the SARS. Now, there is no more SARS.
Unless the protesters have ulterior motives, they should simply disperse and regroup if government’s new SWAT turns to a shadow of the former SARS.
Do the protesters doubt the newly created SWAT that will replace SARS? Let them wait and see how it will turn out. However, Nigerians youths should be commended. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, they have spoken in unison against impunity.
The protest has lighted the candle of social, economic and political emancipation across the country. It has sent a strong warning to the ruling elites. The youths are simply saying things will not continue to be like before.
The protesters denied Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters and advocate of “Revolution Now” any chance to address them. This was to avoid politicising the cause. The Nigerian youths should remain resolute and steadfast. They should not allow themselves to be manipulated by self-centred elites who are the architects of their current woes.
While the country is practicing democracy which rules out any possible brutal regime changes unless through periodic elections, the youths should form a political party to challenge the older generation.
The country’s 60th years of independence and 20th years of uninterrupted democracy have failed to transform into an el-dorado of all sort. The country’s economy favours few with the majority wallowing in abject poverty. The #endSARS protest is a tipping point on the need for more revolution against insecurity and bad governance.
Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua writes from Kaduna
