#ENDSARS : OLANIYAN LAUDS LAGOS AND OGUN PCRC, WANTS OTHER PCRC SOUTHWEST LEADERS TO SUPPORT AUTHORITIES AND RECLAIM STREETS FROM HOODLUMS, by Kunle Sodipo

The National Vice Chairman in charge of PCRC Southwest and Chairman, PCRC National Capacity Building Committee, Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan has charged all leaders of PCRC across the 6 Southwest States, to team up with other responsible citizens such as ; community leaders, traditional rulers, religious groups and youth organizations at their various communities to reclaim every streets taken over by hoodlums claiming to be EndSars protesters.  

The highly respected PCRC Southwest and National leader made the call yesterday Saturday 24th October, 2020 in Abeokuta while commending the leadership of Lagos and Ogun PCRC on series of initiatives, presently in motion, and in collaboration with other critical community members and stakeholders, which are  aimed at protecting and preventing any further damage to the lives and properties of innocent citizens, including Police structures by hoodlums disguising as protesters.

According to the NVC, we must all rise jointly at this critical period to rescue our communities from the hands of unscrupulous elements who have taken advantage of the genuine protest of goods citizens against Police brutality to perpetrate all sorts of criminal acts, including burning of Police stations, killing of innocent Police officers civilians, breaking/looting of government and private properties, raping of innocent women and blockade of roads to deny innocent citizens access to basic needs for survival. It is rather unfortunate that the protest which started in a peaceful manner with reasonable demands made to government and the Police authority in our dear country all of a sudden, turned a different direction and taken over by unscrupulous element with sinister motives.  

How on earth do we claim to be condemning criminality and brutality of Nigerians by bad eggs in the Police and become guilty of committing same offence even in a more damaging and horrific manner, by burning of human beings and Police infrastructures which were made available with tax payers money and also by our own contributions through community efforts ? How do we also phantom a community in disarray, where hoodlums have in their possessions, dangerous weapons like AK47 riffles, stolen from different Police stations which were attacked and burnt down in the name of Protest.

It is our believe that communities who opened their eyes and watch hoodlums attack and burn down Police stations or Police officers in their areas are simply telling the Nigeria Police authorities that their communities don't deserve Police service (s) in their domain. It is time we quench the fire we have left burning on our rooftop by riding our streets of hoodlums who have been, and will always remain a threat to our collective and individual security before its too late.

Yes, there are overzealous and very corrupt security agents who have painted the security agency they represent black, this still doesn't erase the vital role their respective agency plays overall and in the interest of the larger society. It is pitiable that, rather than reasonably and  painstakingly make government bring the bad eggs guilty of all forms of brutality to book, some devilish minded individuals resorted into self help and went on to kill, steal and destroy (acts of the devil, the devourer). 

It is therefore necessary to thank every good officers and men of Nigeria Police led by the IGP, Mohammed Adamu, his management team, AIGs, CPs, ACs and DPOs for what can best be described as a huge sacrifice for peace. Our thoughts will forever remain with all genuine protesters and innocent Police officers who lost their lives and paid the supreme price. May their souls rest in peace while their respective families left behind, finds favor with God.

As communicated to the NVC, the National Chairman, Dr Farouk Maiyama (Yeriman Jega) and other members of PCRC NEC remain very proud of all leaders in the Southwest Zone, including Zonal and State Chairmen, with believe that a lot can still be done to speedily get our streets back from the hoodlums who have taken them over. All leaders are therefore expected to follow the example of Lagos and Ogun States by immediately setting in motion, joint community initiatives to clean up and restore peace and tranquility within us.  

Comrade Kunle Sodipo MNIMN,MNIM.

Director Public Relations,

PCRC Southwest, Nigeria.

Published : Sunday 25th October, 2020.