Yesterday I watched a video by Catherine Obianuju Udeh aka DJ Switch delivering a speech at the Oslo forum. She is famous for her infamous live stream of the Lekki Toll Gate Massacre, Oct. 20, 2020 at the tail end of the #ENDSARS protests. The video has sparked so much controversy among the Nigerian Army, CNN, Ministry of Information, Amnesty International, CBN, Private Hospitals, Churches, NGOs, Celebrities, Lagos State Government and the Federal Government …
A few things struck me while listening to her speak. First, was when she said she had not been to her home since that infamous date (Oct. 20, 2020). I felt that was sad. Next was that a young man had jumped and formed a shield over her when the Military opened fire. She said he was shot on his lower back. He literally saved her life with that singular act of bravery during the chaos. And she didn’t even know his name. So sad. Thirdly, she said the Military and the Minister of Information denied the incident ever happened and said her video was fabricated using a green screen. Her motives were pegged as deception and clout chasing. Wow! Shocking ! She also referenced the Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti whose song, “Zombie” likened the soldiers that raided and burned down his house in the 1970s to “Zombies” that carried out mindless and inhuman orders. Finally, she used a popular Nigerian Expression, “Wahala no dey finish!” Which translates in plain English as, “The problems never end.” Indeed they never do. Many Africans and Nigerian are very familiar with this truth because they are forced to live it everyday by their leaders and their circumstances.
I have an entire chapter in my book, The Most Expensive Real Estate and Other Works – An Anthology of Essays, Poems And Artworks on the Cusp of a Pandemic and on my blog about the #EndSARS Protests with pictures and Artworks (by me) capturing the mood and events as experienced and reported.
This impending week in Nigeria seems positioned to be a turgid, tortuous and torturous one. There is a Muslim holiday; IPOB has issued a stay at home order in anticipation of their leader’s court date; and it is the one year anniversary of the #ENDSARS protests.
The Federal Government has called for peace and 11 States have submitted reports of the panels of inquiry set up to look at the demands of the protesters and petitions of victims of years of police brutality. Compensations have also been paid in various states to victims and their families. Chief among them is Lagos State which has paid out over #91 Million Naira (Roughly about $200,000) thus far. Promising and commendable. I hope others would follow.
I honestly do not advocate violence or anarchy. I support peace and dialogue. I know things aren’t yet kumbaya. But on an advisory and supplicatory note. I implore the youths to eschew violence. If they want to celebrate the anniversary of the protest I ask that the Police should offer protection to peaceful gatherings in recognition of their Constitutionally guaranteed right and freedom of association and expression. The Federal Government should conduct a sincere, dispassionate and thorough investigation of what transpired at the Lekki Toll Gate on that fateful date (Oct. 20, 2020) and give an amicable and acceptable closure to the issue. While they are at it, if it is not too much to ask, I humbly request that they please, please and please look into the thorny issues of kidnapping, banditry and terrorism in the North; the cries of marginalization and calls for secession in the South; Inflation; Abject poverty; Unemployment; Illiteracy; Currency depreciation; violence against women and children, corruption, infrastructure deficit …
The list seems endless. I know and I guess the leadership knows too. Let’s just state in sum, “Please give us the change promised during the 2015 Elections.”
Our world is already beleaguered with a battery of problems. It would be expedient to make concerted efforts to solve a few.
I come in peace. One Love. One World. Live Free. Stay safe and stay blessed.
DrAlexanderGrey 