There is uneasy calm in after weeks of protests against police brutality and bad governance in Nigeria. This event unfortunately happened in the month that Nigeria celebrated her 60th independence anniversary, which should have been a milestone of joy and celebration- but the oppressed youths did not see any light in the tunnel called Nigeria, hence their demand for reform.
The costly sacrifice that the #ENDSARS movement made by exposing Nigeria further to the international community- should be a great awakening for our so-called leaders who are directly responsible for every drop of blood that was spilled during the protests.
Having said that, I extend my deepest condolences to the families of our comrades who lost their lives at the hands of still yet a brutal military propelled government. The blood that the Nigerian government spilled on the streets will remain an indelible mark of solidarity for this cause.
The ruling cabal that have held the country hostage are now getting a glimpse of the bravado of the millennial who are not only sacrificing their lives, but also using multimedia to offset the barrels of guns pointed at them.
During a peaceful rally in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, by the Concerned Christians for Nigeria International (CCNI) one of the conveners and the Publisher of Life and Times News, Chief Chike Nweke reiterated the need for continuance in the struggle for a “New Nigeria.”
Chief Nweke went down memory lane by reminding the crowd that the youths have always been the propeller for change in Nigeria- beginning with the young Anthony Enahoro who was the first to move the motion for Nigeria’s independence supported by Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo and Sarduna of Sokoto et al (All of whom were in their thirties).
This bit of historical lesson goes to show that the continued pattern of recycling leadership in Nigeria must give way to the savvy new generation, who have the mental capacity and better understanding of the changing world to take the mantle of leadership as opposed to a clueless myopic bunch of charlatans.
If anything good came out of the October protests, one can hope that the #ENDSARS movement is a great awakening and a new beacon for justifiable demand for good governance in Nigeria. We must continue to speak very loud about the degenerating state of our native Nigeria through any formidable aegis or channel.
The leaders or rather looters of our nation have also seen that there is no escape from the evil of their hands. Just like the late reggae musician Peter Tosh said, “Downpressor man where you gonna run to, you can run but you can’t hide. The rock will be melting and the sea will be boiling.”
May we retrace our footsteps and toe the straight path of equity and justice-because there will be no place to run to-but home.
Ike Agbatekwe
Editor@Large
Life and Times News
Los Angeles, California
