TheCable

Bashir Abdullahi, a political analyst, says citizens protesting against police brutality need a structured leadership to dialogue with government at all levels.

The citizens — popularly known as #EndSARS protesters — have been in the streets calling for an end to police brutality and for reforms in the force.

There is no visible leader of the protests which have spanned over a week.

Although Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), disbanded the special anti-robbery squad (SARS), the protests have continued.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Abdullahi said since 1999 past presidents have set up panels on police reforms but recommendations from these reports have never been implemented.

“For decades, Nigerians have been complaining about police brutality, the Nigerian state has turned a blind eye, despite panels upon panels set up and recommendations upon recommendations made,” the analyst said.

“As Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, respected political scientist and newspaper columnist, pointed out, all presidents since 1999 have set up one panel or the other on police reform. The reports are gathering dust on Aso Rock shelves. Meanwhile, the police have been gleefully stockpiling dead bodies, cocksure that there would be no consequences.

“SARS went on robbing and killing with impunity. Poverty, unemployment and inequality are the biggest triggers of uprising in any society. Some young person’s taking to ‘yahoo’, drug dealing, and armed robbery are products of a system that does not reckon with the implications of unemployment and poverty.

“I suggest that as we prepare to go to the table with the authorities to discuss but before then, we need a structured leadership and a well-articulated compilation of our demands which must be comprehensive and addressing all areas where leadership and governance have failed over the years.

“Let me also state clearly that I do not seek to lead the delegation but I am simply sharing my opinion as a young concerned Nigerian who believes in the possibilities of our great nation. So, going forward, we need,
Immediate. Short term long term plans.”

Abdullahi said the protests are not only geared towards a change in governance but an “overhaul of the Nigerian system to give us the Nigeria of our dreams”.

“For the comrades in the protests, I urge us to come together and create platforms through technology where we can have representatives in each state,” he said.

“Those who want to offer themselves can be registered with their CVs and bio data. We should then choose a date and let all those involved who must have registered online to vote, vote among them for a purposeful leadership.”