Rinu Oduala is one of the popular faces during the historic #EndSARS protests which rocked Nigeria last year. The former member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry speaks with FUNMILAYO AREMU on the significance of the youth movement.
Do you think the government has learnt lessons from the aftermath of the EndSARS protests?
I do not think that the government or the judicial system planned to take any lessons from the EndSARS movement. When you say aftermath, the Nigerian government perpetrated the aftermath by hijacking the protests with sponsored hoodlums and later military operatives. What lessons do we want the same government to take rather than be emboldened to perpetuate further acts of violence against protesters as seen in recent days? However, recently, the authorities have taken provocative moves in opposing its people. Only authoritarian governments use violence, extortion and intimidation to oppose harmless residents whose crime was to call for the effectiveness of duty by their leaders.
What lessons would you say the youths have learnt from the entire movement?
#EndSARS brings hope to life in the hearts of traumatised Nigerian youth seeking justice. Unity is the most obvious lesson during the protests, an exemplary achievement when we consider the lines of tribal and religious differences that have always separated us. Young people learned that a functional Nigeria is possible by demonstrating good governance and responsibility during protests. Last but not least, integrity and transparency were demonstrated during the protests, a feature that our government institutions lack today. It is an ongoing process in the hopes that with the #EndSARS movement, the government can respect people’s rights.
Are you satisfied with the results and reports from the judicial panels set up to investigate the situation?
It is a known fact that panels set up in the country before the protests including the infamous Presidential Panel recommendations, are yet to see the light of the day. Will the Nigerian government let us embark on the path to policing reforms or will it as usual ignore the reports and continue to profit from the humiliation of Nigerian citizens?
The EndSARS indoor summit was rejected by the event centre on the grounds of “orders from above”. Do you think the Nigerian youth still have a voice in this country?
The voices of Nigerian youth are being silenced in a country that should encourage them to speak up. Our safe spaces are shrinking. Being in a safe space gives you the awareness that you have the right to stand up and speak with confidence. We clamour for a country that enhances demonstrations for young people’s intelligence, passion, and desire for change. What safe spaces are available for young people in Nigeria? Can we fully contribute to our community today? How are we being encouraged to become active community citizens? Were young people not shot and killed during peaceful protests last year? Do young people not die each day from police violence? Do Nigerian leaders realize the challenges and contributions of young people or trying to improve their access to opportunities? Restricting access to expression for young people only shows the climate of an authoritarian government that we are in, and that this government does not want young people to grow because they are afraid that if we are allowed to participate, things will get better. The recklessness and impunity will cease. Nigeria leaders are afraid of a working Nigeria.
What are your thoughts generally on the matter and what is the way forward for the Nigerian youth?
We fight for a better Nigeria, where a normal graduate gets a high paying job, can afford to pay his rent comfortably, and still plan for the future. We need a country where the police and all other law enforcement agencies under no circumstances physically abuse or violate the rights of citizens. Knowing that the future of the Nigerian youth is seriously threatened is not rocket science. We want a future from which they can look back and not regret living. However, this future is increasingly difficult to grasp. Under this government, we have been pushed into a place of despair, where no respite seems to be on the horizon. In spite of this, we would remind the Nigerian government that Nigeria is all that many of us have, and we have the right to demand that it works for all of us.
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