The #ENDSARS protests that rocked Nigeria last year should be seen as a wakeup call for the government to improve the nation’s economy.
Convener of Nigeria Peace and Sustainable Initiative (NPSI), Professor Christopher Imumolen stated this at a press briefing in Lagos recently, explaining that it was not only about a quest for reforms in the Nigeria Police Force.
Prof. Imumolen’s position came as protesters thronged the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos in commemoration of the #EndSARS protests which culminated in the shooting that took place in the area in October, last year.
According to him, the protests helped in some ways to reduce the excesses of some policemen, but that getting the nation’s economy to work for everybody was paramount.
He said, “The ‘E’ in ENDSARS represents Employment, ‘N’ stands for Nigeria for All, “D” for Digitalisation of the Economy, ‘S’ for Security and Safety for All, ‘A’ for Alternative Source of Power ‘R’ for Rescue Nigeria from Poverty while ‘S’ stands for Social Welfare for All.”
Imumolen said, “If all these parameters are worked on, Nigeria can be great in less than six years.”
Warning that things will get worse, if Nigeria doesn’t get it right this time, Prof Imumolen advised both the youths and the entire citizens to get involved in the democratic process, stating that is the only way to bring about the desired change we want.
“It is the right of every Nigerian to have a voter’s card. Nigerians must endeavour to get voters cards and engage in politics,” he said. “The only way to build Nigeria is to provide social interventions for the people.”
Prof Imumolen said Nigeria’s security challenge was man-made. “Insecurity is not caused naturally but man-made. There is need for total overhaul of the security apparatus.”
On efforts of the government, one year after ENDSARS, Imumolen noted that the government has only paid lip service to the situation, regardless of “fantastic policies in place which are not properly implemented.
“We have seen evidences of families who were affected but the government has not opened up. We need to do more about the implication of 5 by 5. The massacre theory is there and there are video evidences. Let’s see what we can do to regain the trust of the people.
“This time around, it is not going to be political as usual. We are going to move the youths to ensure they engage in the political process.”
