By Revd. Dr. Idowu Ibitoye
Introduction
The protests staged by Nigerian youths requesting for the disbandment/end of Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (#ENDSARS), is a recent movement against police brutality in Nigeria. Nigerian youths are reacting to how SARS officials had engaged them, resulting in torture, unlawful arrest, humiliation, unlawful detention, extrajudicial killings and extortion. The protest started in early October 2020, while on 11th October, 2020 the Inspector General of Police announced its dissolution, and replacing it with other security tactical unit. This did not go well with the Nigerian youths who resorted to continuous demonstrations, which had received international solidarity across the globe. As at the time of this write-up, Wikipedia reported that 78 people with 4 policemen had died from the uprising.
The 20th October, 2020 Lagos tollgate brutality against the defenseless youth who were protesting is worrisome, resulting in many critical Nigerian infrastructures vandalised and damaged. In a developing nation like Nigeria these kind of brutality against the citizens must stop. End-nonsense simply means that we should put an end to all foolish and unacceptable behaviours in our society.
End-Nonsense
The time to put an end to Nigeria nonsense is now, all the nonsensical acts bedeviling the nation, needs to be stamped out now. To enumerate all the nonsensical acts disturbing our nation will be difficult as it is endless; this write-up will just mention a few.
1. End the nonsense of bad leadership- It is true that Nigeria is blessed with both human and material resources, but the ability to control and manage the wealth is our major problem. Effective leadership in various strata of our society has been a challenge to Nigeria as a nation. Nigeria has always been blessed with opportunist leaders, those who come to power by chance without having adequate blueprint of their vision and goals for sustainable development, this is drawing the nation back. Nigerian intellectuals must rise to the challenge and do away with bad leadership and governance. To transform Nigeria positively, we must collectively end bad leadership.
2. End the nonsense of corruption – Corruption is simply defined as dishonest or fraudulent conducts by those in power, typically involving bribery. Corruption is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into Nigeria’s system. This has caused a major set-back, because roads, hospitals and other social amenities that should have been built, were not because the money had been diverted to private pockets by individuals; while the average citizens are made to face the consequences on daily basis. Most of our leaders both in sacred and secular institutions are corrupt; no one wants to sacrifice again. The genesis of rot in the police force that led to #ENDSARS protest is that corruption has eaten deep into the system. God will help the leadership of the Nigerian police force to sanitise the system for a better and more effective police force for the good of all and peace in our society. We must all rise to end the nonsense of corruption!
3. End the nonsense of examination malpractices – Examination malpractices is simply cheating during examinations. This is happening in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. In contemporary days the use of examination mercenaries is becoming rampant. Many schools had become miracle centers. The sad aspect of it is that the teachers who aid this evil practices are not products of such, but due to greed and love for money they allow such to happen. Government must rise to her responsibility, by putting an end to this menace, because the so called leaders of tomorrow are already getting corrupted through this “evil” short cut. We must all rise to put to an end to the nonsense of examination malpractices.
4. End the nonsense of election rigging – Politics has become a lucrative industry in Nigeria, and politicians are out to make money at all cost with very few of them ready to sacrificially serve the people. Most politicians see election as do or die affairs, they want to get to the position of power at all cost, and this makes them to engage in ballot snatching and often times killing some opponent. The three arms of government (i.e executive, legislative and judiciary); with the civil societies must rise to salvage the situation by putting an end to the nonsense of constant electoral rigging.
5. End the nonsense of discrimination – Discrimination is the unjust treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, religion, age or sex. Often times one wonder if we are truly one Nigeria because the level of discrimination is so high. Many have been denied job opportunities, appointment to higher positions due to discrimination. At time before one can be preferred for a job he/she must come from a certain region of the country or be affiliated to a particular religion. To move this great country forward, we must stop discrimination as a matter of urgency. People at the corridors of power must know that they will not be there forever; they must embrace everyone as fellow citizen. Beloved we must rise to stop this nonsense of discrimination.
6. End the nonsense of occultism – Occultism is gaining ground among Nigerian youths, and churches must arise to properly educate the younger ones before they are exposed to the evil of cultism. Many had been sent to early graves through involvement in secret societies. Most of our institutions are not safe from this evil menace, it is a great nonsense that must stop in our society. The appeal to those who might have found themselves in the secret societies is for them to renounce it and accept Christ as their Lord and savior. It is a nonsense that must stop.
7. End the nonsense of religious violence- Religious violence is one against other religions. Christians – Muslims’ strife is increasing in Nigeria, this is rampant especially in northern part of the country. Nigeria is a secular state, we must learn to live together in harmony without discrimination against one another. The event that took place during #ENDSARS protest on Friday 16th October, 2020 when young Muslim faithful were praying at Lekki toll gate with their Christian counterparts protecting them, the same replicated on Sunday 18th October when Christian youths observe short service at the same venue, while Muslim youths guided and protected them is a step in the right direction. This is a good omen, showing that we can live together in harmony. Politicians should stop dividing Nigerians along religious lines. The nonsense of religious violence must stop.
8. End the nonsense of embezzlement of public funds– To embezzle is to steal or misappropriate funds which is placed in one’s trust. The Nigerian anti-graft agencies need to double their efforts in order to uproot totally the evil of embezzlement of funds in public place. This is a great nonsense that is causing the nation a serious set-back, it must stop.
9. End the nonsense of poor parenting– Parents must return back to their primary assignment of training their children in the ways of the Lord. The Bible also commanded that “…parent should direct your children onto the right path and when they are older they will not depart from it”. Prov. 22:6. Many youth lack home training and this is causing confusing in the society. The popular adage says, charity begins at home. Today’s parents are after money they are looking for money at the expense of their children training. Parents must return to their assignment of training their wards in the ways of the Lord.
10. End the nonsense of insecurity – The level of insecurity in Nigeria is becoming unbearable for the citizens. The level at which banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and armed robbery are happening is alarming; it seems the security agents are no longer able to handle the situations. The home state of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria is not exempted. The security architecture of Nigeria needs to be overhauled. The Lekki toll gate massacre will linger in our memories for long – what a country we have. This nonsense of insecurity must stop with immediate effect.
11. End-nonsense- Also we must end rape, end abortion; etc as these nonsenses seems to be increasing at alarming rate in our society. It is a big nonsense among our youths that must be stopped.
Conclusion
The recent protest tagged “#ENDSARS” is an eye opener for our nation and society to move forward, we must rise to put an end to all the vices in our society. All the nonsenses must be stopped, and everyone of us must rise to put an end to all these in our varying capacities as leaders, citizen, parents and youth.
