#EndSARS: Edo Parents Suggest Way Forward

Parents and guardians in Edo state, are hoping that the Federal Government will harken to the demands of protesting Nigeria youth as the President makes a nationwide broadcast to citizens today, Thursday.

According to Mrs Bridgette Epelle-Asemota, a teacher, she is confident of soothing words from the President as the protests have continued because, “the time for change is now” and “the future remains bleak for our children”.

She said, ” we are praying and backing up our children that our demands as a people should be met  this time around because we can no longer rely on our strength but on the power of God to deliver us from the hands of those terrorizing Nigeria because they have the power and the money”.

She argued that the protest only went violent because they were infiltrated by hoodlums who carried out attacks on Police stations and prison breaks adding that, “the youths were more concerned with the business of the day” and could not have gotten involved in the violence.

“For those who carried out the mayhem they will certainly get what they bargained for. Its unfortunate but it is also difficult to engage in this sort of protests without casualties”, she added.

Dr Victoria Amu, an activist, who described the violent mode of the protests as sad said that the present situation is a result of , “… a government that is only responsive to quick fix action”. She said the past few days have been sad for Nigeria arguing unless the President means well, ” Nigeria cannot grow. The lot of our children is up in the air. I do not know where we will go as a country.”.

Barrister Dele Igbinedion said that even as a lawyer it has become very difficult for him to differentiate between legality and illegality in Nigeria. He said this is because there appears to be laws for the poor and one for the rulers, whose plan is to keep the poor in penury perpetually.

“The prisons and Police stations are the constant symbols that represents the instrument of oppression or intolerance of the Executive. My take is that the successful breach of these two security institutions without any response shows that the government is unprepared for governance”.

He said for the victims of the protests, he is hopeful “The government will take responsibility for all the deaths and destruction that has so far accompanied the youth protest”.

To do this he suggested the payment of adequate compensation to families of those who lost their lives but more importantly address the issues bordering on the living standard of Nigerians.

Dr Amu’s only concern is that with over 2000 criminals let loose on Nigerians in Edo, while lives and properties remain unsafe, government should be better for it as the monies taken for security votes will now be better utilized.

On whether or not lessons are being learnt or if the protests would impact on governance in the country, the lawyer said that ideally “The government should no longer take the people for a ride. They have done that for too long. In a sense the people are now ready to sacrifice their lives. Government should sit up and not do business as usual.”

But he said, “I do not see the protests impacting on governance because the rulers are impervious of any form of confession to the people. Our system of government is wrong with a Constitution sitting on a wrong pedestal. Government will just allow the protests to simmer down and life goes on”

Dr Amu said that there are lessons being learnt from the protests. For the government she says they are learning to listen, realising that the cries of the citizens now generate global sympathy and the youths know their rights. For parents she says the lesson is to get the youth out of the streets and watch them devise alternative means of agitation for a better future.

She said, ” I see the leaders of this country going back to the drawing board because Nigeria require fixing. To impact on governance with today’s leaders, the International community must have to intervene. But one thing is certain: the people have learned to agitate and will henceforth continue to do so”.

For Epelle-Asemota, she doubts if Nigerian leaders can learn any lesson. She says, “Otherwise there is a sombre lesson to be learnt; that for for once our youths have taken  their destiny in their own hands. And this should be a turning point for the government to do something. If not 100 percent but do something”.

On whether the youths should vacate the streets, she says, ” They have their set goals and government should listen to them because they are achievable”. #