Popular singer, Simisola Ogunleye, otherwise known as Simi, has said she doesn’t subscribe to the idea of #EndSARS protesters appointing their representatives.
Simi said it won’t be fair to have representatives for the #EndSARS protest which has metamorphosed into a movement.
According to her, if the government needs to address the issue on ground, it should do that using appropriate channels and having in mind that the general public is being addressed, not some representatives.
Her words: “I don’t know how I feel about having appointed representatives. I know the intent is good, but I believe that whatever the Nigerian Govt wants to say, they should say to everyone. Organize press conferences and talk to all of us, cos this shoe is pinching everybody differently.
“If we choose anyone, it’s not far fetched to assume that they will automatically be burdened with the responsibility of the outcome of this movement. Divided we scatter.”
On how she thinks the government can approach the age-long issue of police brutality, Simi explained: “Everybody’s blood is hot and I don’t see how the government is not equipped enough to transparently bring perpetrators to book and compensate the victims for everyone to see. This is how I feel about it. It doesn’t mean it won’t work. It definitely could, but this is my opinion.”
For some days now, there has been a nationwide protest against police brutality in Nigeria. Thousands of youths have aggressively been demonstrating their rights to protest both online and on the streets.
While the protesters are demanding for an end to the age-long police brutality in the country, they are also leveraging the current trend to demand for good governance.
However, in spite of the ban of defunct-Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the notorious department of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), protesters are still on the streets, putting pressure on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to address the issue, amongst others.
But do you think having representatives will disvalue the #EndSARS agitation?