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Friday, October 16, 2020

"If it is not fit to live in, then our job is to make it fit."- Fela Anikulapo-Kuti(Afrobeat King)

From

#EndSARS

to

What's that biblical parable again? The one about putting old wine in new wine skin. Shebi the Bible said it will burst, abi? Toh!

Nigerians are spending days and nights on the streets under harsh conditions, protesting against police brutality and demanding an end to SARS but what did they get instead? A mere name change!

The

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu,

through the police spokesman,

Frank MBA,

announced on

Tuesday, October 13, 2020,

that a new unit of the force named Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) had been formed to replace the scrapped Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The announcement was met with disapproval with protesters wondering who would be put in the "new" SWAT, especially when photos emerged that we've had a SWAT team since 2014, at least.

Meanwhile, Governor of Lagos State,

Babajide Sanwo-Olu,

had a meeting with

President Muhammadu Buhari

on the #EndSARS protests and in the course of him relaying the demands of the protesters, baba laughed. We do not know whether to him, the demands sounded like a joke or he did not understand them. Oh well…

We appreciate those who have been holding it down on the streets and online. Despite the intimidation, we stand tall!

The five demands still stand and we will not relent until they are met. Aluta continua!!!

Did you say prophet? Well, you're right!

It is no coincidence that the Afrobeat legend's posthumous birthday came at a time when there's a demand for social change in his homeland.

Born on

October 15, 1983,

Fela Anikulapo Kuti

was known for speaking against societal ills through his music.

In the words of Fela,

Police man go slap your face, you no go talk...army man go whip your nyash, you dey look like donkey 🎶

What's your favourite Fela song?

Nomination Gone Wrong

Lauretta Onochie,

Special Assistant to President Buhari on social media, was in the news again and she was dragged by her lace front...figuratively. 

Apparently, she was

nominated by the President as the Independent National Electoral Commission's (INEC) National Commissioner from Delta State.

Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Senate Minority Caucus, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) kicked against the nomination pointing out her partisanship. 

Item F, paragraph 14 of the third schedule of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended)

forbids a politician to be a member of INEC

– a body charged under the Constitution to unbiasedly conduct free and fair elections.

Mr President, follow due process!

In light of recent happenings in Nigeria and most importantly the need to channel all available resources towards the success of the #EndSARS #EndPoliceBrutality campaign in Nigeria, the

New Media, Citizens and Governance Conference 2020 (#NMCG2020) has been postponed.

A new date will be communicated soon.

We encourage you to speak out and provide support. Thank you!

Have a great weekend!The EiE Nigeria Team