Some EndSARS campaigners including Folarin Falana aka Falz
and Debo Adebayo aka Mr Marcaroni have rejected the invite by the Lagos State
Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to a peace walk for “the healing of Lagos” in
December.
The governor in a speech on Tuesday on the Lekki shootings
of October 20, 2020, said, “In December, I will be leading A WALK FOR PEACE to
herald the healing of our land. Let me use this occasion to extend an open
invitation to our youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society
groups, students and the media as well as other stakeholders to join me.”
Specifically, the governor invited Falana, Adebayo, Dele
Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just
Detoun), Seun Kuti; Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu; and Commander of
Rapid Response Squad CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the “historic
march for our dear Lagos.”
Sanwo-Olu also said his government would release its White
Paper on the report submitted by the EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry on
November 15, 2021.
He said, “As an administration, we are determined that the
next steps that will be taken in this process of coming to terms with the
events of October 2020, must bring closure to a painful episode in the history
of our state, with the release of the White Paper later today.”
A youth protester, who was also invited by the governor for
a walk, Awosanya, lauded Sanwo-Olu for his “leadership”.
@segalink tweeted, “@jidesanwoolu has shown leadership with
this matured response and we hope the WhitePaper will mirror his sentiment. We
all want closure, Justice and healing for our society. The experience of 20th
October 2020 must never be repeated.”
But reacting, the younger Falana, who tweeted via
@falzthebahdguy, described the peace walk as a “joke”, insisting that justice
must be served for all victims of police brutality.
This suggestion of a “walk for peace” sounds like a joke and a very disrespectful one at that.
— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) November 30, 2021
People were murdered in cold blood and absolutely no iota of justice has been served more than a year after.
How can there be peace without justice ? #EndSARS
In this same speech, you said “To be a smart city, we first must be a just one”
— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) November 30, 2021
Remember the young Nigerians that had their lives snatched away by weapons weilded by our own armed forces? You want to sweep that under the carpet ? Is that how to establish a just city? #ENDSARS
Young Nigerians, till today, are still being constantly harassed and extorted by police officers!! You were awfully quiet about that. Or are you not aware ? #ENDSARS
— Bop Daddy (@falzthebahdguy) November 30, 2021
Also, Adebayo, who tweeted via @mrmacaronii, said he was not
ready for any walk, adding that the last “walk” he had, he was stripped nak3d
and dehumanised.
“I humbly decline the Invitation of Mr Governor. The
Government itself set up a panel. The panel has made recommendations. I believe
that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations
of the panel. Then, we can begin to trust the government.
“Finally, I’m not at war with anyone. Not with the
government, police or politicians. All we are asking is that our leaders place
value on our lives as citizens and lead us with love, fairness, truth and
justice, to enable all Nigerians live a better life in peace and unity,” he
wrote.
The last walk wey I do, na so dem bundle me, strip me naked, brutalize and dehumanize me. I no carry gun, I no carry weapon.
— DeboMacaroni (@mrmacaronii) November 30, 2021
As dem dey beat me, dem dey ask why I dey disturb Mr Governor.
Now dem say make I come do walk. For another round of beating??
Abeg o. If I wan lose weight, I go go gym. Same peaceful Walk wey Nigerian Youths do wey dem kill them? Some are still in prison.. some have gone into hiding. Their lives no longer theirs all because we decided to walk against police brutality.
— DeboMacaroni (@mrmacaronii) November 30, 2021
Mr Governor has said it in his speech. That to be a center of Excellence, we have to be a Center of Truth. Before there can be healing, the government has to be sincere. There must be acceptance of wrongdoings and willingness to correct them.
— DeboMacaroni (@mrmacaronii) November 30, 2021
I humbly decline the Invitation of Mr Governor. The Government themselves set up a panel. The panel has made recommendations. I believe that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel. Then we can begin to trust the government.
— DeboMacaroni (@mrmacaronii) November 30, 2021
Finally, I’m not at war with anyone. Not with the Government, police or politicians. All we are asking is that our leaders place value on our lives as citizens and lead us with love, fairness, truth and justice, to enable all Nigerians live a better life in peace and unity.
— DeboMacaroni (@mrmacaronii) November 30, 2021
Recall that the comedian was
arrested by the police in February 2021 for protesting against the reopening of
the Lekki toll gate, a focal gathering of young campaigners protesting against
police brutality and extrajudicial killings in October 2020.
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