Popular Social Crusader and Global President of One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Osagie Eholor has condemned what he termed intimidation of prominent members of the #EndSARS protesters by the federal government and its supporters.
Eholor in a statement signed by him, insisted that the #endSARS protest was a peaceful and well organized protest before the unfortunate Lekki shootings which was capitalized by hoodlums to perpetrate crimes by looting and destroying public and private businesses.
Eholor called on eminent and patriotic Nigerians to speak up in the wake of this intimidation which is aimed at shutting down Nigerians, especially the youths from demanding for good governance and social justice.
He said protest by the youths was a genuine one because the result was accumulated anger of the Nigerian youths over decades of failure in the delivery of basic social services, unemployment, systemic corruption, impunity of political office by those in powers and disobedience to the rule of law which has precipitated distrust and lack of confidence in the state and its institutions.
Nevertheless, he called on Aisha Yesufu, Folarin Falana (Falz), David Adeleke (Davido), Bankole Wellington (Banky W), Tiwa Savage, Nwankwo Kanu and Sam Adeyemi, and 43 other #EndSARS protesters not to be intimidated by the shenanigans of the Federal Government through the freezing of accounts and law suit.
He urged the youths to remain resolute in their quest to end brutality and impunity in the governance of the country, as no victory comes cheap and easy.
He urged the Federal Government, National Assembly members and other government officials to be remorseful to the youths rather than embarking on this vindictive and frivolous voyage of prosecution of #EndSARS protesters.
He wondered why the Buhari’s regime would seek to prosecute peaceful protesters who were demanding for their rights to be safe from harassment, torture and brutality in the hands of the recently disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police while killer Fulani herdsmen, bandits and Boko Haram insurgents are not being prosecuted with similar zeal.
He further urged the federal government and the Inspector General of Police to vigorously reform the Nigeria Police Force to meet international standards. He wondered why police officers were still escorting pastors and imams, yahoo boys and known political thugs.
He also advised the federal government to increase the salaries and welfare package of the personnel of the Nigeria Army. He said the Army barracks deserves special attention owing to the state of infrastructure in the barracks. He urged the government to renovate the Army barracks, fix their electricity and provide portable water for the soldiers to boost their morale for better service delivery.
He concluded by saying that the brutality by SARS Officers were as a result of poor funding stating that if the Army is not properly funded, their brutality would be worse than that of SARS.
