OYC Press Release

CALLS TO END SARS, CHILDISH AND EFFORT IN FUTILITY – OYC

•Insists on ending Nigeria’ current structure

The National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O.

Igboayaka has said recent calls by Nigerians to #EndSARS and police brutality
instead of confronting the endemic root causes of the issues, was a childish demand
and effort in futility.

Fielding questions from journalists in Abuja, Comrade Igboayaka noted that

Nigerians should go to the root causes of failed government system and
dysfunctional structural problems bedevilling the country.

He stressed that ending SARS without ending the current system of government in
Nigeria which has failed the citizens is the worst unreasonable approach to the
problem of extra-judicial killing perpetuated by Nigeria security agents.

Comrade Igboayaka regretted that Nigerian youths hitting the streets to End SARS
are just exercising their youthful exuberance, describing them as youths with zeal
but without knowledge of the fundamental problems confronting Nigeria, noting that
other security agencies and paramilitary outfits such as DSS, Army, NCSDC and
Customs also portray barbarism and brutality in discharging their duties. He
therefore queried if there will also be a call to “#EndDSS, Army, Custom and
others?” since they have also been accused of incidences of human rights abuses in
one way or the other.

Igboayaka, therefore, urged the Nigerian youths to rather focus on genuine and
reasonable calls such as “#Ending Nigeria’s failed system and reverting back to the
1963 Constitution where every region was independent and autonomous from the
others.

Comrade Igboayaka pointed out that the Independence Constitution which our post-
colonial leaders negotiated with the British government between 1957 and 1959,
which brought about three regions that agreed to become independent as one united
country. So, it was a negotiated constitution, but was abandoned by the military,
noting that it was when the military came in 1966 and threw away the constitution,
they threw away the negotiated agreement and a political consensus negotiated and
agreed by our leaders of the three regions in those days which was the foundation
of a united Nigeria.

Therefore, Nigerian youths should wake up from slumber and demand to #EndNigeria
and insist on restructuring Nigeria now, by hitting a protest that Nigeria should
go back substantially to that constitution which gave considerable autonomy to the
regions in the country. The youths should call for an end to the military
constitution drafted by military oppressors led by late Gen. Sani Abacha.

Igboayaka also called on the Southern Nigerian youths to stand up now and reject
the present military Constitution of the Northern political oligarchy that came
from only one part of the country that was designed to favour the Northern part of
Nigeria, adding that the “Northern Book” known as the Nigerian Constitution is the
problem of the country and not SARS.

Furthermore, it’s unreasonable to call to End SARS without calling to end all other
security agencies in Nigeria because they have also participated in the killing of
innocent Nigerians.

The Igbo youth leader recounted that according to the report of Intersociety,
spanning from 2015 to 2020, over five hundred(500) Igbo youths has been murdered by
the Nigeria DSS, Army and Police. This over-centralised unitary constitution and
system of government is the real problem and its end we must seek now, let each
region manage their police.

Similarly, Igboayaka also faulted the disbandment and redeployment of the SARS
personnel to other units by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, saying
a criminal remains a criminal no matter where he is taken to. He wondered how how
the SARS operatives who should be brought to judgement on their numerous crimes
should be redeployed to continue their nefarious activities and crimes against
humanity in another angle, calling for thorough examination and introspection into
the matter.

Signed:
Chukwuemeka Chimerue,
Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Ohanaeze Youth Council
(OYC).
October 12, 2020