…Urges youth to go to negotiating table.
By Lucky Isibor
South-South Legacy Group has condemned in very strong terms the brigandage, arson and looting in Benin City Edo State under the guise of#ENDSARS protests.
The group also commended the Government for the early response it gave to the initial 5point demands of Nigerian youth engaged in the #ENDSARS protests across the country adding that the hijack of the protests by miscreants and hoodlums has defeated the objective and philosophy of the protests
In a press statement signed by the spokespersons of the group, Osagie Aiguobasinwin and Hon. Camilus Okosun, the South-South Legacy Group deplored last Monday’s protests in Benin City which rendered the ancient city postrate.
While reinterating it’s unalloyed support and solidarity with the protests and the philosophy behind it, the group condemned in strong terms it’s hijack by hoodlums and eulogised the government for swiftly addressing the initial five point demand of the youth.
“The actions of the miscreants who hid under the aegis of #ENDSARS protests on Monday, 19th October, 2020 in Benin City is unacceptable, barbaric, lawless, inhumane, and a far cry from the reason, principle and philosophy of the #ENDSARS agitation.
“The organizers of the ongoing #ENDSARS peaceful protest, have our solidarity, support, understanding and endorsement for the protest to correct the many errors in our national body polity, even as some of our members in this group may have been directly or indirectly involved in the organization and conduct of the #ENDSARS peaceful protest.
“Let us for the clarity of purpose look at the original driving agenda of the organizers of the protest and crusade. The agenda are basically and originally five in number.
The #ENDSARS “Wants the SARS unit of the police force scraped, erring members tried, convicted and dismissed or jailed as the case may be; end police brutality and victimisation of Nigerian youth and other innocent Nigerians, remodel the Nigerian Police Force to be people friendly and work for the people as proper reorientation is recommended, compensation to be paid to the victims of scrapped SARS living or dead and better pay packet for the officers and men of the police force.
“The government did responded to the initial 5point demands all within five days. On records, there has never been anytime a government responded to matters this prompt. This prompt response from government is actually a plus to the organizers of the protest to have gotten a prompt attention faster than they could have imagined.”
The group urged the protesting youth to go to the negotiating table adding that the economic and political situation may have necessitated the elongation of their demands.
“There is no denying the fact that the state of the nation, politically and economically does not put smiles on the faces of the people at this point in time which may have justified the upward review of the 5point demands to accommodate issues like light and fuel pump price, corruption, among many others.
“Don’t forget that no war ever ended on the battlefield, rather issues are negotiated in the interest of peace, concord and development, which one has expected the organizers to have keyed into to press home their other points.
“It is important to know and say here that Edo State is strategic to the region, and that the protesters have operated within the dictates and rules given by the organizers until Monday 19th October when hoodlums and criminals hijacked the protest and rein terror on our people. We watched live on ground, on social media and other platforms where our daughters, sisters, wives, and mothers were rubbed of their valuables and raped.
“We also saw footages of our innocent youth, brothers and fathers who were also subjected to dehumanizing agony by the same perceived youth who said they will defend them against percieved oppression from government.
“It is more heart breaking and unacceptable to us as a people for anyone to turn the rein of terror against our people. We will not accept this and Edo, as well as the other South-South states’ people both at home, across Nigeria and in diaspora should stand up in unison to condemn the criminal invasion, destruction and setting ablaze of five police stations in Benin, as well as attacks on media houses like the DAAR COMMUNICATIONS’ AIT Benin Center and Vibes FM Radio Station, among other institutions”, the statement said.
While commending Edo State Government for the measures put in place to douse the tension and restore order to the state, the group called for the enforcement of the curfew within the rules of engagement of security agencies in accordance with global best practices.
“We are using this opportunity to commend Edo state government for declaring the curfew, although it was a little bit delayed, we are also calling on the state government to further put a bite of force and enforcement into the curfew so as to drive the miscreants away and preferably get them arrested.
“We will still want to also call on the Military and other sister security agencies to avail Edo state and other states of the South-South, their services with a view to check mate their further activities as well as allowing a dangerous spread of this to our neighboring states.”
