…Lauds President over end to ASUU strike
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Former Inspector General of Police and Board Chairman of Nigeria-First Foundation, Chief Mike Okiro has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to declare October 20th of every year a national freedom day in memory of the victims of the EndSARS protest of the year 2020.
This is even as Chief Okiro hailed President Buhari for his efforts which eventually culminated in the calling off of the eight months strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
The Board Chairman of the Nigeria -First Foundation reasoned that the calling off of the ASUU strike would enable Nigerian students to return to their classrooms and be better and productively engaged as well as avoid been used as tools in the hands of desperate politicians.
The EndSARS protest did not only call for an end to Police brutalities but also sought to redress injustices in all ramifications.
The former Inspector General of Police, who spoke through the President of
Nigeria-First Foundation, Comrade Ulo Victor-Morrow at a press conference yesterday in Abuja, maintained that declaring October 20 as a national freedom day would help make
the day a memorable one, which in many ways will become one of the finest legacies of the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Chief Okiro said, “Your Excellency (Buhari) sir, today (yesterday) the 20th of October, 2022 officially marks the second year memorial of the EndSARS Protest, an unprecedented nationwide peaceful leaderless but highly coordinated movement against Police brutalities, social injustices and generally bad governance.
“Objectively, the movement sought for the resurgence of conscience and a deliberate effort to make Nigeria work systematically under your leadership and administration.
“Your Excellency, anytime I remember the EndSARS I feel a deep pain in my heart looking that the way our young peaceful protesters were taken off the surface of this world, all in the name of fighting for a just Country.
“As we speak a lot of families are still in pains mourning the loss of their beloved children who left their homes in solidarity for social justice, freedom and for a BETTER NIGERIA.
“This was not just calling for an end to Police brutalities but seeking to redress injustices in all ramifications but unfortunately they left their houses and families that black 20th day of October, 2020 and are still not back home and the reality is they will never return home.
“In as much as they will never come back to their immediate families, the truth is that – their labour will never be in vain.
“Their legacies live in our hearts and our solidarity is very much with Your Excellency to make this day a memorable one which in many ways will become one of the finest legacy
“It is highly believed Your Excellency is capable to give a presidential declaration of October 20th as a national freedom day just as you graciously declared JUNE 12 as DEMOCRACY DAY in honour of the Late M.K.O. Abiola’s political struggles for sustainable and democratic freedom”, he said.
The Nigeria-FIRST Foundation assured the President of its total solidarity to hold a peaceful, free, fair and credible elections next year.
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