EndSARS: Declare October 20 National Freedom Day, Former IGP Urges Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has been urged to declare October 20th, as National Freedom Day in honour of the collective struggles of Nigerians for justice.

A former Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro, rtd, made the appeal at a press conference he addressed to mark the 3rd anniversary of the EndSARS Memorial 2023/36th monthly Extra-Ordinary Zoom Session of The Diplomatic, Diaspora And National Strategic Stakeholders Forum.

Okiro, who is currently the Board Chairman of JusticeNOW International, said Tinubu would be proving to the whole world that he was never against the EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate, as it was widely speculated in some quarters in Nigeria and abroad if he consented to the proposal for the National Freedom Day.

The ex-IGP said, “Your Excellency, in your noble capacity as the Head of the Government of Nigeria, the full responsibility and powers now rest on your shoulders to do something remarkable to change the narratives of the #EndSARS for the better because this generation cannot forget the memories of October 20, 2020.

“As a body committed to the NigeriaFIRST advocacy, which seeks national Interest, patriotism and peaceful co-existence, we are therefore officially and publicly appealing, for the third time, thus using the instrumentality of your Excellency’s Renewed Hope to appeal for your Excellency’s Presidential Declaration of October 20th as National Freedom Day- to remember our collective struggles of our youths for justice.

“Your Excellency Mr. President, it will please you to know that the Institutionalisation of October 20th as National Freedom Day (National Holiday) would be one of Your Excellency’s greatest legacies ever.

“It will show your true appreciation of your love for the youths as this development would serve as a sign of respect to the souls of the departed at Lekki Toll Gate otherwise known as struggles for social justice.

“This is a great sign your excellency will approve this national proposal (October 20) to further prove your excellency was never against the EndSARS Protest at the Lekki Toll Gate as it was widely speculated by some quarters in Nigeria and abroad.”