EDITORIAL
END SARS PROTEST; THE LABOURS OF OUR HEROES PAST IN VAIN?
END SARS PROTEST; THE LABOURS OF OUR HEROES PAST IN VAIN?
It’s almost that time of the year. Time flies fast but I don’t think the families of those killed will agree with this. 20-10-2020 was a black Thursday in the history of Nigeria for Nigerians here and even those living in the diaspora. I don’t think there is any youth or old people alike that don’t know what happened at the Lekki Tollgate that night except people who live in rural or the group of people living in denial.
In retrospect, on Thursday, the 20th of October, 2020, Nigerians marched to the Lekki Tollgate with flags in their hands during a peaceful protest concerning the deaths and inhumane treatment given by the SARS officers. The END SARS Protest was just not an agitation against the SARS but also bad governance, the high increase of corrupt practices, and insecurity amongst others. “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth”- William Faulkner. This I believe was what was in the mind of most Nigerians that turned out for the protest throughout the different states but what did we get in return?
May the labors and deaths of our loved ones and heroes not be in vain. Yes! Those selfless souls we lost that night, those victims of ill government and bad leaders are our generation heroes. These victims stood for hope, justice, and peace but they were terminated without trial or proper investigation for justice to be served.
Till now, the government still denies this incident and claims that no one was killed during the END SARS Protest when there are videos, live videos from the scene, and a lot of evidence that says otherwise, the truth. There were deliberations about having a peaceful walk to the venue of the massacre this year to mark the fall of our brave heroes but the government advised and warned against any form of gathering. This and other reasons are why some people have made claims that the country is not democratic, as we ask Why? Why the intimidation, and deflection?
All that we stood for and fought against are rampant in our country today. Government officials and politicians have not stopped being corrupt and the state of insecurity in the country is alarming and scary. Not only are people now afraid to travel because of bandits along the roads and the increase in kidnapping but even within one’s locality, one is not safe.
During the weekend, a 400 level student of the Department of History, the University of Ibadan who was popularly known as Dayo was killed by Alleged Armed Robbers after collecting the gadgets from him. The investigation is said to be ongoing concerning the murder of this young and promising man. The culprits may or may not be caught but how long are we going to continue living on the edge? I mean it saddens me that we no longer worry about if this will happen again, the cancer has gotten to who's next victim? We are no longer united in the fight against insecurity, corruption, and injustice but in the hope and fear of not being the next victim, the next past hero
Corruption has deepened more and has birth injustice, insecurity, and other unfortunate detrimental vices in this potentially great nation. Sadly and daily it seems the labor of our heroes' past has been in vain, it seems that their perseverance even in the face of death has gone to waste. END SARS Protest helped with the realization that we have a voice, and they heard but they didn't act on our demand. The glorious country we all dreamed of can come to actualization with such a strong voice and active participation in the nation's affairs, especially politics. Only our labor can make the labor of our heroes' past not be in vain.
In retrospect, on Thursday, the 20th of October, 2020, Nigerians marched to the Lekki Tollgate with flags in their hands during a peaceful protest concerning the deaths and inhumane treatment given by the SARS officers. The END SARS Protest was just not an agitation against the SARS but also bad governance, the high increase of corrupt practices, and insecurity amongst others. “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this, it would change the earth”- William Faulkner. This I believe was what was in the mind of most Nigerians that turned out for the protest throughout the different states but what did we get in return?
May the labors and deaths of our loved ones and heroes not be in vain. Yes! Those selfless souls we lost that night, those victims of ill government and bad leaders are our generation heroes. These victims stood for hope, justice, and peace but they were terminated without trial or proper investigation for justice to be served.
Till now, the government still denies this incident and claims that no one was killed during the END SARS Protest when there are videos, live videos from the scene, and a lot of evidence that says otherwise, the truth. There were deliberations about having a peaceful walk to the venue of the massacre this year to mark the fall of our brave heroes but the government advised and warned against any form of gathering. This and other reasons are why some people have made claims that the country is not democratic, as we ask Why? Why the intimidation, and deflection?
All that we stood for and fought against are rampant in our country today. Government officials and politicians have not stopped being corrupt and the state of insecurity in the country is alarming and scary. Not only are people now afraid to travel because of bandits along the roads and the increase in kidnapping but even within one’s locality, one is not safe.
During the weekend, a 400 level student of the Department of History, the University of Ibadan who was popularly known as Dayo was killed by Alleged Armed Robbers after collecting the gadgets from him. The investigation is said to be ongoing concerning the murder of this young and promising man. The culprits may or may not be caught but how long are we going to continue living on the edge? I mean it saddens me that we no longer worry about if this will happen again, the cancer has gotten to who's next victim? We are no longer united in the fight against insecurity, corruption, and injustice but in the hope and fear of not being the next victim, the next past hero
Corruption has deepened more and has birth injustice, insecurity, and other unfortunate detrimental vices in this potentially great nation. Sadly and daily it seems the labor of our heroes' past has been in vain, it seems that their perseverance even in the face of death has gone to waste. END SARS Protest helped with the realization that we have a voice, and they heard but they didn't act on our demand. The glorious country we all dreamed of can come to actualization with such a strong voice and active participation in the nation's affairs, especially politics. Only our labor can make the labor of our heroes' past not be in vain.
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