…..Marshal Law in Edo
….Youths Make Twenty Three Point Demand on FG
By: Oladimeji Abitogun & Olawale Oladele
Youths protesting Police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Nigeria have today shut down the Ilesha/Akure/Owo highway, a major inter-state road that links to the North-Central and South-Eastern parts of Africa’s most populous country.
The shutdown of the critical inter-state route, also occurred in a day that has witnessed the introduction of twenty-four hour marshal clamp down in the Mid-Western State of Edo, South-South Nigeria.
The protesters have increased their cardinal demands for reforms to seventeen from the original five initial requests. They had demanded the immediate scrapping of the tactical Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) amongst others.
The agitation is not dissipating even after the government came out with a replacement named Special Weapon and Tactical (SWAT) unit. The youths said the christening may not change the unit’s content of character.
Now they are demanding the following:-
End SARS
Sack of all Security Chiefs
Improve security
Full deregulation of Oil and Gas sector to allow more investments for job creation
Immediate passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)
Full deregulation of Power Sector to allow investments, Capital flow to create employment
Government to hands off petroleum pricing to enable free market determination of oil price
Close our Northern borders to stop free entry of Fulani herdsmen and bandits
Inclusive government for all tribes and regions of Nigeria with 50% youths in charge of governance
Allocation of more funds to education sector to provide better teaching/learning tools and pay better salaries to end ASUU strike.
Change our academic curriculum to reflect modern day realities
All politicians should be placed on minimum wage to attract genuine public servants
Migrate to 100% Electoral reforms with electronic voting tied to our BVN and GSM
Return Nigeria to regional governance structure or restructure the country and embrace true Federalism
Disband the Bi-Cameral Legislature and adopt Uni-Cameral
Immediate reform of Nigeria Police Force and let every State or region create its own Police Service
No more budget for running private affairs of elected and appointed public servants
Enthrone University education as minimum qualification for public office holders at all levels of government from President to Local Government and Ward chair persons
Strip ex-Governors and all elected and appointed public servants of all benefits after office
Increase salaries of our medical doctors, nurses, teachers, Police, military officers and civil servants
Government should hands off ownership and management of business at all levels
Name and shame looters and make criminal offenders and looters to face trials in their home states and villages to shame them and their families
A stop to foreign medical trips for public servants. Let them be treated here in Nigeria.
In order to draw attention to the seriousness and urgency of the demands, the protesters staging carnival like processions blocked the North Gate tip of the highway at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA). Trucks laden with supplies and commodities ran into gridlocks created. The threat of drafting the military is not moving the youths who have now taken to the streets for about twelve days.
In Edo State, the infiltration of the movement by hoodlums who attacked a Medium Security Correctional facility along Sapele Road, Benin-City and the threat of the situation degenerating into lawlessness and extortion led to the introduction of a twenty four hour curfew.
The Deputy-Governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu, took time off ahead of a Security Council meeting Monday night to justify the lock down of the State as a necessity to protect lives and properties.
Shaibu said Police Stations, vehicles were burnt, persons injured and it was not yet clear if there were fatalities. The government of Edo State has since instituted a 12-man judicial panel of inquiry into the #ENDSARS protest and demands.