EndSARS Protests: NIPR condems shooting of protesters
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has condemned in strong terms the shooting of #EndSARS protestors at Lekki toll gate in Lagos on Wednesday.
Speaking with the Newsmen in Abuja on Thursday, the President and Chairman of the Council of NIPR, Alhaji Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, stated that the resort to use of arms against unarmed who were doing nothing other than exercising their guaranteed rights to dissent was against all known tenets of decency, civilization and democracy and therefore unacceptable.
“We equally condem in no uncertain terms the resort to the hooliganism that ensued afterwards which led to arson, looting of both public and private properties.
“It is our firm belief, that lawlessness has nothing to do with the original objectives of #EndSARS movement, which we believe to be simply a cry against impunity a pitch for good governance”, Surajo stated.
He also mentioned that the institute respect citizens’ rights to peaceful dissent as well as government’s responsibility to the maintenance of law and order.
The President also commended the decision by the Federal government to dissolve SARS, says it is a step in right direction but not a solution to the problem.
He believed that far reaching reforms in the nations policing architecture that include review of recruitment process, improvement in walfare and general reorientation from top to bottom would go a long way in regenerating citizens confidence in the police.
Alhaji Sirajo was of the opinion that beyond the police and SARS, the demonstration should serve as a wake up call to Leaders at all levels to the fact that paradigm is shifting from complacency, towards citizens asking questions on the leadership.
He noted that it is imperative that government at all levels brace up for more accountability by engaging citizens in a sincere dialogue about the way forward.
According to him, establishing or improving in this line of communication with Nigerians would help governments in discharging of it’s commitments to timely action on programme that seek to make life better for the people.
The NIPR President maintained that in as much as it believed that there is nothing wrong with the citizens coming together to demand for a better deal from their government, genuine protest and protesters must guard against being infiltrated by others with different motives which cause not only a lose of focus but also a resort to lawlessness.
He called on the government to be faithful to the decision to address all issues raised and also to immediately institute an inquiry into Lagos shooting to ensure that victims get Justice.
