By Ibrahim Mustapha, Kaduna
As the #end SARS brutality continues to gather momentum,there is suspicious that either the protests being held across the country are politically motivated or have a tacit support of some influence Nigerians who want to cash out from the situation for their own political benefit.The proponent of this theory agrees that,government has already yielded to the protesters demand,scrapped the notorious police unit and replaced it with Special weapons and tactics team (SWAT). Also,the inspector general of police,mohammed Adamu,announced the dismissal of over 36 members of the disbanded SARS who were found guilty in the course of exercising their duties.Further to the IG directives,the dissolved SARS officers are to report to the force headquarter and undergo psychologist test to ascertain their mental fitness. notwithstanding,this assurance from IG and apology tendered by the Vice president,Yemi Osibanjo has fall deaf in the ears of Nigerians youths. The protest has continued unabated with the likely hood it will turn violent and affect the peace and harmony of the country.It seems the current ongoing protest goes beyond the SARS brutality. Any aggrieved party that took up our street protesting must have an objective for doing so. In 2012,the #occupy Nigeria protest was borne out on the need for government to maintain fuel subsidy which it contemplated to remove.The protesters demanded that government should not abolish subsidy,instead check the corruption bedevil the subsidy regime. Although,some opposition politician took part in the protest which raised question of its sincerity, it quickly ended when government agreed to probe the subsidy spending.I think the present protesters have already registered their displeasure or grievances to the government on the activities of defunct SARS which border on extra judiciary killings,extortion and human right abuses. Interestingly, government has swiftly agreed to their request and bowed to pressure by dissolving the SARS. Now,there is no more SARS. Unless the protesters have ulterior motives,they should simply disperse and regroup if government new SWAT turns to bird of the same feather with former SARS.Are the protesters doubting about the newly created SWAT that will replace SARS? Let them wait and see how it will debut. However,Nigerians youths should be commended. For the first time in the history of Nigeria,they have spoken in unison against impunity. The protest has lighted the candle of social,economic and political emancipation across the country. It has send strong warning to the ruling elites. The youths are simply saying things will not continue to be like before. The protesters have denied Soware,the publisher of sahara reporters and advocate of “revolution now”any chance to address them. This is to avoid politicising the cause. The Nigerian youths should remain resolute and steadfast. They should not allow themselves to be manipulated by self-centered elites who are the architect of their current woes.While the country is practicing democracy which rules out any possible brutal regime changes,unless through periodic elections,the youths should form a political party to challenge the older generation. The country’s 60th years of independence and 20th years uninterrupted democracy have failed to transformed it to el-dorado of all sort. The country’s economy favours few with the majority wallow in abject poverty. The #end SARS protest is a tipping point on the need for more revolution against insecurity and bad governance.By :Ibrahim Mustapha pambegua,kaduna state. 08169056963.
