- #EndSARS protest is to effect regime change —IGP
Governors and people of the South-South geo-political zone have demanded for restructuring in line with the principle of true federalism to guarantee peace, security and stability of Nigeria.
Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum and Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, made the request, yesterday, during the regional stakeholders’ meeting with a presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the government house, Port Harcourt.
Okowa said the people of the South-South remained committed to the restructuring of Nigeria in a way that would guarantee true federalism and devolution of powers to the states to create and manage their own police and security architecture under a federal structure.
The governors said the country was not at peace with itself and not working as it should, particularly, for the people of the South-South region.
In his remarks, Prof. Gambari said the stakeholders meeting was at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari to consult with representatives of the people regarding the recent #EndSARS protest.
The chief of staff promised to convey the demands of the region to the president.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, urged the leaders of the region to pursue their demands through the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly.
The Director General, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, lauded Governor Nyesom Wike’s stance against the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which hijacked the protest and killed 10 security operatives, torched stations and court buildings in Oyigbo.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, said fake news gave impetus to the nationwide #EndSARS protest that culminated in the death of civilians and police personnel as well as the destruction of their assets.
Adamu said intelligence reports had confirmed that the #EndSARS protest was funded from within and outside the country, adding that one of the primary objectives was to effect regime change.
The meeting was attended by governors Wike, Rivers; Ben Ayade, Cross River; Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom; Douye Diri, Bayelsa; and Godwin Obaseki, Edo.
Others were: Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta; Timipre Sylva, Minister of State, Petroleum; Goddy Jedy Agba, Minister of State, Power; Festus Keyamo, Minister of State, Labour and Employment; Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health; and Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture. The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, was however, absent.
Other eminent persons present included the National Chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), retired Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga; and former President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onueze Okocha (SAN), among others.
It would be recalled that the last-minute absence of the presidency officials at the date earlier fixed for the meeting was condemned by the South-South leaders who demanded an apology.
