#EndSARS Awakened Nigeria From Her Lethargy, Says Aregbesola

– Calls On Parents To Be More Responsible On Children

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that the recent #EndSARS protests, witnessed across the country has awakened the nation from lethargy thereby bringing out consciousness on the state of the country.

Aregbesola, who spoke today, after he was conferred with an award of Episcopal Ecumenical by the Ijesa-North Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, in Ijebu-Ijesa, commended the youths for the #EndSARS protests, describing them as intelligent and enterprising.

He also commended the Federal Government for its prompt action in addressing the demands of the youths.

The Minister said: “The youths must be commended for organising a protest that awakened the nation from its lethargy and arose out consciousness to the state where we found ourselves. We must commend the government for it prompt action in addressing the demands of the youths.

“These youths are a blessing to any society, just as they can be purveyors of evil if their energy is not properly channelled. Today’s youths are a peculiar breed, a generation of the social media and hub of ideas and intellect; they appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than the previous generation.

“They are very intelligent; which we must all seek to channel for positive modelling, mentoring, retraining and ultimately, gainful employment.”

Aregbesola condemned the violence that engulfed the latter part of the #EndSARS protests, describing it as shameful and embarrassing.

He said: “The report and pictures of assault, killings, looting, arson and bare-faced robbery and even cannibalism should fill us with shame and are very embarrassing. It seems that as parents, we have jettisoned our responsibilities to our children. We must train our youths to be God-fearing and capable of loving one another

“We have regrettably seen that the effort of a century can be wiped out in a day; and it would take time to rebuild. That is why security, coordination and management of protests should be well-thought-out and moderated.

“It is a call to us as a nation for self-examination, since our birth in 1960. How far have we gone on the ladder of development? Government has its own fault because it should provide leadership, but we must take direct responsibility for our own development.”

In his remarks, the Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa-Noth Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rev. Isaac Oluyamo urged the government to urgently solve problems of corruption, insecurity, unemployment, poor education system, agitations of the #EndSARS, among others.

According to Oluyamo, Nigerians have really experienced a lot of evil in the hands of lawless and ruthless agencies in the country, maintaining that the rights of the people are not respected, even in a democratic system of government.

Oluyamo maintained that the people are enduring the suffering because of the fear of unfair treatment that could lead to imprisonment or death.

He said: “I am really grateful to God and appreciate the protesters against SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad). We hereby advise the Nigerian government to listen to the voice of the masses and do the needful and reform all the country’s security outfits.”