EndSARS Memorial: Buhari Is Disconnected From Average Nigeria Reality — Omisore

Omisore Gabriel a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State has said President Muhammadu Buhari is too distant and disconnected from Nigerians.

Omisore stated this during a virtual interview to mark the EndSARS memorial which held last Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

According to him, “despite the hullabaloo, agitations and events that followed the Endsars protests, it’s a shame that a year after its still the same old story, no police reform has taken place.

"I am not surprised though, the president was told the protesters were out to remove him from power. He’s so disconnected from the average Nigeria reality”.

#EndSARS: State Policing And Reform

Speaking in support of State Policing, Omisore advised that before the state policing, the “Nigeria police need their head checked. The police that’s supposed to be the citizenry friend are the most hated by the citizens.

“State Policing will save us many problems. And the state police will be better monitored and disciplined by the Governors.

Omisore Gabriel Photo Collage By AllNews Nigeria

“I am not saying the state police will be angels but it will be better than what we have right now. My only fear is the political persecution that might come with it. The Governors will definitely abuse their powers. That’s my only fear”.

When asked what he meant by the Nigeria Police needing their heads checked before any reform or state policing, Omisore said, “When I say they need their heads checked, an average Nigerian hates and doesn't trust the police.

“The distrust between the police and the citizenry is alarming. You see the police coming and you decide to run for your life. That’s how bad it is. It’s at a point where people prefer to be attacked by robbers than the police

“At least, the robbers will only rob you, the police might kill you, charge you for non-existent crime, swap you with an hardened criminal. Even “rope” you.

“The Nigeria Police isn’t our friend. We detest them. What surprises me is that this agitation is also for them, they need better welfare, better pensions but they fail to look at it that way. The police harassing today will be out in 15/20 years crying for help, sympathy that their pensions hasn’t been paid. We will remind them."

About The EndSARS One Year Anniversary

#EndSARS protest erupted in different parts of the country in October last year in a nationwide agitation against the nefarious activities of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the police force in general.

The demonstration, which started peacefully, turned violent after the second week with hoodlums who hijacked the protest hiding under its cover to loot, kill police officers, and torch public properties including police stations.

Aisha-Yesufu at the EndSARS Protest, AbujaAt the peak of the protests, soldiers invaded the protest ground at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos on October 20, 2020, and opened fire on peaceful protesters.

The Nigerian Army denied its men killed protesters, saying they only fired blank bullets to disperse them. But Amnesty International, in a statement commemorating the protest and the shooting, on Wednesday, insisted that 12 persons were killed by the soldiers.

A striking gain of the protests was the proscription of SARS by the federal government.

ENDSARS protesters at Lekki tollgate

Judicial panels of enquiry were set up in 28 states and Abuja to investigate cases of police brutality, recommend compensations for victims and prosecution of erring police officers.

But apart from Lagos State, other states are yet to pay compensations recommended for victims by the various panels, popularly referred to as #EndSARS panels.

With the Lekki Tollgate shooting clocking one year last Wednesday, many Nigerians trooped to the streets in different parts of the country, including Lagos and Abuja, to hold memorial protest in defiance to police threat.