By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
A chieftain of people democratic party, PDP in Delta State, Comrade (Engr) Igbini Odafe Emmanuel said that the ongoing #EndSARS protests embarked upon by the youth is not just against Police Brutality but against the decades of unpatriotic and poor governance of Nigeria ruled by elites over the years.
Engr.Igbini made this remark in a statement made available to Daily watch in Warri , noted that President Buhari’s Heart and Soul are with this ongoing worldwide Protests for better Nigeria.
He maintain that President Buhari is not against it at all because his anger against unpatriotic and bad leadership across all facets of our Country is not in doubt.
He called on Gen.Buritai not to be deter despite demands from some Nigerians that it is time he took his well deserved retirement from Service, adding that before the Worldwide ENDSARS protests started Lt Gen. Buratai and Nigerians have also cried out against poor funding and poor motivation of our Nigerian Military. I suspect that this ENDSARS protests may extend to demand to #End Poor Funding of our Nigerian Military.
The statement read in parts,”
The timing and reason now given for the commencement of this planned Nigerian Army Operation CROCODILE SMILE in the midst of growing worldwide peaceful protests by patriotic Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, is total ill-advised, wrong decision and most likely to mislead Lt Gen. Buratai to act wrongly as some of his predecessors. This must not happen to him and the patriotic Officers of the Nigerian Army sacrificing daily to defend our dear Country, Nigeria.
“He has rewarded Excellence proportionally displayed by Officers and Men of the Army irrespective of the States of Origin and Religion. As I write this Piece of Advice, I am aware that he has since relocated to and he is right now at the theatre of War in the North East of Nigeria leading Patriotic Nigerians in the Nigerian Army to battle against the unrelenting external enemies and terrorists who have declared war against our Country.
” I am aware too that despite his commendable efforts so far there are demands from some Nigerians that it is time he took his well deserved retirement from Service but our dear PMB has insisted he continues his good job.
” It is also a fact that before this Worldwide ENDSARS protests started Lt Gen. Buratai and Nigerians have also cried out against poor funding and poor motivation of our Nigerian Military. I suspect that this ENDSARS protests may extend to demand to #End Poor Funding of our Nigerian Military.
” Lt Gen. Buratai must remember also how some of his Predecessors were misled to carry out unprofessional and unethical Conducts against Nigerians and Nigeria, the recent being the use of Officers and Men of Nigerian Army in the rigging of Governorship Election in Ekiti State in 2014 and failed attempt to do same in the 2015 Presidential Election. As a result some Army Generals were disgraced out of Service by President Buhari.
“We salute the Nigerian youths who have risen to say enough to the excesses of the Nigerian state. We salute the Nigerian youths who have risen to say ENOUGH to the excesses of the Nigerian state symbolized by the crimes of SARS at this period in history,” he said.
“The Nigerian youths have always shown indignation against state irresponsibility at critical stages over decades,” he recalled.
“The ongoing Protests is not just against Police Brutality but against the decades of unpatriotic and poor governance of Nigeria which Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as he then was, also strongly condemned and led similar series of nationwide Protests against and also attempted to put an end to when he was appointed military Head of State in 1983.
“It is for this reason and for the love and appreciation of the Excellent Performance so far displayed by Lt Gen. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff, that I strongly advise him to end well and not be misled to take this wrong last step.
“He must not authorise the deployment of Officers and Men of our Nigerian Army under the guise of Operation CROCODILE SMILE to kill fellow Compatriots seeking a better Nigeria and a better funded and motivated Nigerian Army,” he stated.
He warned Gen.Buratai against deploying soldiers to stop protesters campaigning for police reforms as that would backfire on Nigeria.
