News
Updated: October 24, 2020

#EndSARS: 'Re-strategize To Press Home Your Demands' - Human Rights Activist Tells Protesting Nigerian Youths

By Ridwan Yusuf
October 24, 2020
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Protesting Nigerian youths have been urged to as a matter of urgency suspend their demonstration and find another strategy to make their requests known to the government.

AllNews reports that a human rights activist, Temitope Omotayo who gave the advice during an online forum said there was the need to halt the protest and re-assess the situation to know the way forward.

Omotayo pointed out that the violence that greeted the "ENDSARS" protest which started peacefully following its hijack by some unscrupulous elements necessitated the call to pause the protest.

He noted that leaders of the youths should come together, address the situation and calm the nerves of the people down.

"Burning down buildings and organizations is not the best way to right the wrong that has been done".

Omotayo, a staunch supporter of youths described as unfortunate, the shooting of unarmed youths who were demonstrating peacefully in some parts of the Country. "I condemn the acts of security personnel, especially Soldiers who unleashed terror on people during the protest".

The Legal Practitioner said though some of the requests of the protesting youths in the areas of police brutality have been acceded to, there is the need for government to see to other requests of the youths which among other things include good governance and provision of employment.

"Chapter two of the Nigerian constitution provides that it is the duty of government to provide employment and security for the people".

According to him, " It is appalling that President Muhammadu Buhari in his broadcast on Thursday, October 22, 2020, failed to acknowledge the brutality exhibited by the military by shooting protesters at the Lekki Tollgate in Lagos".

He however condoled with the families, the entire Nigerian youths and associates of those who lost their lives in various incidents that happened during the protest, describing them as heroes of a new Nigeria.

Barrister Temitope Omotayo also enjoined the youths to henceforth be conscious of their political power so that those who do not have their interest at heart would not be entrusted with political positions.