DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN HOOLIGANISM AND ACTIVISM. A case study of end SARS.
By Afolabi Akinola
I am a lover of engagement and civilised demonstration against injustice and oppression. We have severally uttered and authored the potency of rule of law along with my colleagues and senior colleagues. I remembered the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi,the late minority right activist,Kenule Saro Wiwa.Ken was tried along other eight activist in the Ogoni Civil Disturbances Tribunal, he was executed with guillotine machine with eight others on November 10th 1995 and subsequently Nigeria was suspended from Commonwealth of Nations. The Soyinka’s,late Dr Beko Ransome Kuti and many others of excellent antecedence. The situation with end SARS has a beautiful beginning but dangerously out of focus now.
Sadly condemnable is the burning of police stations without any provocation. We saw hell at Ikorodu going home I arrived my residence at 2am armed with my press cover on Saturday night .A lot of Nigerians were robbed on the way and very unintelligently daring as I speak the gate of university of Lagos was shut against us for protection. They are struggling to come into the school premises with dangerous weapons and terribly dressed boys with wild cacophony. The mission and vision statement has been eroded by this gesture.
A signal of a failed country. No doubt the operations of the unprofessional excused SARS has become nothing to write home about. It was far from international best practices because the recruitment process in the first instance, is a NEGATION of civility .Unwarranted extral judicial killing has become so callously insensitive. This unbecoming security gesture in conduct and mode of dressing of SARS has been a reflection of the clueless nature of our dear country. A very deep excruciating pains has engulfed the minds of Nigerians. The popular police are your friends slogan is now in the dubstin.No doubt, pains are everywhere but however good the intention is illegality cannot and can never justify illegality. Burning of stations will lead to anarchy and an erosion of the basis of end SARS agitation and police brutality in Nigeria.
The ventilation of anger is a reflection of frustrations and unemployment embarrassing statistical skyrocketing rate in Nigeria. I engaged some of the angry youth I was simply told in their response that they are tired of the hopelessness of our dear nation.Joblessness influenced by unemployable credentials has become the trend of the Nigeria future .It is terribly sad .End SARS is a mirror of the decay in the Nigeria system. The diagnostic mirroring of the Nigeria state in all ramifications is a anticlockwise to our National Anthem and Our national pledge
Institutionally absurd, may I summarily zero in on the need for civility in agitation. Two wrongs cannot be a product of common sense.Hooliganism has become the choice of engagement in setting stations ablaze and criminals detained set free. Activism involves focus and a more regulated agitations that is deeply rooted in scoring a goal for reforms.Unless the rules of engagement are more non violent, solution to the struggle will be made colourless. I wish all Nigerians the best at this excruciating hours.He who fights and run live to fight another day.The daily income of average Nigerians are on daily income, the rich are not the same.Violence is nonsensical and unwarranted. Once again,my condolences to the bereaved families.Government has to address this issues tactically with a sense of belonging to avoid breakdown of law and order.
Yours sincerely
Afolabi Akinola.
Chairman Lagos State Chapter of NAGDS
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