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The National Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) says the time is ripe for Nigeria to be re-negotiated away from what it described as “the unjust and sectional political structure left behind by the British colonialists” which, to them, is no longer sustainable.
The group said the political imbalance in the country has produced nothing but sorrow, poverty, and death for Nigerians.
This was contained in a resolution titled ‘#EndSARS – It is time to renegotiate Nigeria’, issued by the Christian Elders Forum at the weekend.
The group, which is led by Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), a former minister of defence, and other statesmen, also condemned the shooting of unarmed ENDSARS protesters in Lagos, while calling on the National Assembly to carry out investigation into the causes of deaths and destruction that trailed the demonstration.
“NCEF wishes to express great sorrow at the recent events in the country which commenced with nationwide protests against the excesses of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and climaxed in the death of some of the unarmed protesters, security personnel, and mindless destruction of properties. All the lives lost are Nigerian and there was no need for any of them to have died,” the statement read.
“There must be full National Assembly inquiry into the causes of death and destruction that trailed the peaceful #EndSARS protests…. The government must be fully investigated for the role played by security agents in transporting, and supervising vandals and thugs to attack the protesters.
“The prison breaks and widespread arson should be diligently investigated as there are allegations of government complicity to discredit the protest.
“The current situation was mishandled by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari because the army was released against unarmed protesters in Nigeria. Whoever authorised the deployment of troops to face the protesting youths should be court-marshalled for murder.”
The forum further wondered why the government could negotiate with terrorists and integrated them into the military but could not do so with the protesters, rather allegedly opened fire at them.
“This double standard that is characteristic of the Buhari administration is condemnable,” it added.
“As the country mourns the death of the protesters, the security personnel, as well as other people who died as collateral damages, NCEF appeals to the youths to suspend any further public protest. The point has been made that though Nigerians are tolerant and patient, they are not docile.
“The government should take advantage of the protests rejecting police brutality to introduce state police. This is the appropriate step under the circumstances to ensure adequate and effective security nationwide and henceforth localise any case of police excesses to the states.
“The failure of government to declare state police at this point should be interpreted to imply that a centrally controlled police is desired by the government in order to continue to provide state cover for marauding Fulani herdsmen, kidnappers, bandits and Boko Haram.”
