#EndSARS: JDPMC Condemns The Killing Of Protesters, Offers Alternative Resolution Means To Govt

Following the killing and maiming of the Nigerian youths who had been on EndSARS peaceful Protest that is taking place in almost 36 states of the Federation which the source of its authorization still remains mystery, The Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC), Osogbo has also lent her voice together with the rest of patriotic Nigerians, in a strong term condemned the act of killing spree by the Nigerian Army.

The General Coordinator of the JDPMC, Rev.Fr. Peter Akinkunmi stated this in a statement made available to the Newsmen in Osogbo, Osun state through Media Officer of the Organization, Olayemi Alabi.

According to Fr.Akinkunmi, the disposition of the Government at all levels pointed to the fact of indifference and insensitivity to the cry and yarning of the aggrieved youths who had for far too long been the objects of brutality and abuse in the hands of Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police Force.

“From observing the attitude and response of the Government so far, we are not clear about the sincerity, the disposition to learn and understand or the political will government at all levels to responds adequately to the cry of the protesters. This is because from careful reflection on the background to the #EndSars course, an objective observer would find out that the brutality of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police Force who have been abusing, brutalizing, and wasting the lives of Nigerians with blatant impunity was only the final trigger of a protest of the Nigerian People against injustice and corruption that had been waiting to happen,” He said.

He noted further that Government should not see the peaceful protest as a means of dividing the nation, polarizing gimmick or state of anarchic venture but rather a clarion call for both the Government and the Governed a sane and better Nigeria.

#EndSARS in our understanding does not divide the nation into a polarization of the government and the governed. It rather calls the government and the governed to a roundtable where solutions to some of the most damaging problems of the nation can be overcome. We therefore think that a government with genuine intention to defend the good of this nation and further the growth of democracy should not immediately preoccupy itself with ending the protest. We expect the government to rather guide the process and follow it up as means to acquire a richer and holistic knowledge and understanding of the real problems of Nigeria, the hope and aspiration of its people and seek from them also the plausible solutions that would lead to the Nigeria of the dream and pride of all,

The government should, with objective and unbiased mind with no interest in self-defense or self-preservation begin to take note of all the grievances and demands from the genuine protesters without ever falling again into the dishonorable attitude of interpreting them as the voice of the opposition. We think it is completely dangerous and inimical to national development for the government to continue to interpret the voice of the people in a democracy as opposition.

The priest therefore charged Nigerian Governments to allow diplomacy and true democratic spirit to prevail by considering the cry for a just national structure and system that offers everyone equal opportunity to fulfill their lawful aspirations in peace and in dignity worthy of their person, disciplined and effective public institutions that would develop and use the resources of Nigeria for the Nigerian people.