Wale Jagun
A development and political platform based in Igbogbo in Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area of Ikorodu Division, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria, De – Vanguard, has called on the youths to embrace rebuilding after the unfortunate developments of the past few days that has thrown Lagos into turmoil.
The group, while making the appeal in a statement, described the use of excessive force in dispersing peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate Plaza on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, as one of the darkest days in the history of the country, while also commending the #EndSARS protesters, stating that they have made their voices loud for the world to hear.
Also in the statement, the group sympathised with the victims of the army brutality at the Lekki Toll Plaza venue of the #EndSARS protest and others across the state while also calling on the protesters to abide by the curfew order issued by the Lagos State Government.
While also appealing to the youths that are agitating for an end to police brutality and institution of good governance and reform across board, De Vanguard, which has been contributing to the socio – political and economic developments in Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, urged them to accept the government’s readiness for dialogue as a way forward.
The release of the group is reproduced below:
“IT’S TIME TO REBUILD OUR NATION ON THE ROSTRUM OF PEACE AND JUSTICE
“The event on the 20th October,2020, remains a tragic reflection of our society and unarguably one of the darkest sides of our history. It becomes more depressing realizing that those who have been handed the duty to protect lives and property of the citizens are at the forefront of the attack and were the perpetrators of this attack.
“De.Vanguard extends her sympathy to all victims of the brutality as well as their families, we align with them in this gory period and pray for the repose of the souls of the dead.
“We join our voices with the genuine voices of Nigerians in demanding justice for the victims. We urge the Governor of Lagos State,Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and President Muhammadu Buhari,to rise up to their responsibilities as Chief Security Officer of the State and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces respectively,by ensuring no further lives are lost to this brutality.
“To our dear youths, the genuine advocates for good governance and proponents of the #EndSARS gospel, indeed, a statement has been made by you, your agitations have been loud enough and difficult for anyone to feign ignorance of them. This is the time to embrace dialogue and ensure all requests are met in reality, this is the worthy recompense for those who lost their lives to the struggle. We should not allow hoodlums to take advantage of our sincere agitations, the properties being set ablaze and vandalized are not government’s property in reality but the people’s asset that we must all jealously guard, any harm done to them are equally done to the people.
“We, hereby, advise the following to calm this heated period and ensure peace across the nation :
1. “Obey Government directives by staying at home until the curfew is relaxed.
2. “Avoid unnecessary and sentimental tribal and political insinuations, it will only aggravate the situation.
3. “We should not desist from engaging the government constructively at all levels on issues of governance as it will no longer be business as usual.
4. “The spread of fake and unverified information, especially as it concerns this subject matter should be stopped. This is further heating up the atmosphere.
5. “Lastly, this is the time to appoint genuine leaders for the cause, leaders whose antecedents have proven their sincerity to this struggle and who possess the true negotiation skill to drive in our demands, not leaders who observe their usual table manners of not talking when they are eating”.
“Like the proverbial ram that moves backwards to bring more power, our retreat is not to surrender but to reinforce and restrategize to bring about the desired overhaul in the system.
“This is the first step to build a country where peace and justice reigns in perpetuity”.
