Has The #EndSARS Protests In Nigeria Changed Anything?

BY ROTIMI AKINDELE & MONSURU ADEGBENRO

Life is steadily returning to normal in Nigeria after the nation-wide #EndSARS protests against the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police. However, the question on many lips is: Did the protests achieve anything? Below are the responses of some Nigerians to the above question:  

Personally it has not really changed anything, it’s still the same of the same.It is what is still happening before about all this corruption of a thing or the killings. We are still seeing and hearing some of them that is happening around us and this criminal activities has not stopped. Partially, I can say it’s a waste of time because what the government did was just to silence the protesters by intimidating them.

Olafashakin Adeola, Commercial busdDriver 

I am not sure the #EndSARS protests have changed anything; our governments are stubborn, selfish and will not allow youth to rule because of their selfish interest, that’s why I said that the protest will not bring things out. I pray to God to hear our voice but our government won’t accept the demand of the protesters due to their selfish interests.

John Okafor, Trader

What I think is that it will because firstly the government listened to the protesters and secondly from their reaction I think something good will come out of it. Nigeria is a wonderful country, what I feel is that during this protest a lot of people poured out their hearts’ desires. The things troubling them, they poured it out as well, and I feel as a result of this, there will be a change.

–Kayode Samuel, Marketer

My prayer is that the efforts of the protesters will not be in vain, had it been that our government are God fearing they should listen to the demand of the protesters. Even if they can carry out all the demands, they should at least listen to and implement more than half of the demands of the protesters. It is also good as the youth went out to protest because if they don’t, the government won’t know their grievances and what’s hurting them. As they have gone out to protest, the government should also look into their demands as even though it’s one’s child that is feeling bad about something and if the child doesn’t speak out, there is no way the parents would know about it but if the child speaks out the parents would know what to do about it.

– Iya Ibeji, Typist

Of course #EndSARS protests have changed somthing, a message has been passed and a statement has been made to those concerned. The agitations of the people in general was towards the particular direction, an act of impunity cannot go on without been checked. If nobody is talking for the people, the people are rising for themselves to speak for themselves and the whole world has had that. Where they went to and the direction which they headed probably was where God wants us to be otherwise they wouldn’t all have agreed at the same time. The different parts of the state sobers protest and everything in the whole country, not even a face as a head as everybody came out from the streets you can imagine. I think they have actually achieved a lot.

–Adewale Abdul,  Job seeker

I believe it will change many things by the grace of God, if not for the hoodlums that came to disrupt it because the protest was going peacefully initially as I personally went for the protest once.

When I got to the venue of the protest and heard opinions from some individuals, it made me felt bad as I even forgot my own condition as people are suffering extremely in this country.

I am a graduate after completing my mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in the year 2009 and since then, I have not been able to get a job.

Also, I have been duped by different people and presently I have to work as a laundry man to survive in the country.

I’m actually not happy with the situation of things in the country but I know it’s not by violence that the aim is going to be achieved. Our leaders should listen to the demands of the protesters as most citizens are annoyed.

So, the protest will eventually change things by the grace of God as they now know that people are angry. I am also personally angry but I won’t fight anybody but it’s high time the government intervened before it gets worsen.

Of course it has been passed across and they should know that the youths are hungry and angry as you can see the way citizens are looting palliatives, it’s just because there is no warehouse in Ikeja that has been discovered to house palliatives. If there were to be any around Ikeja, there will be lots of citizens that will still go there and loot as well. It’s not easy at all, do you know what it is, not to be able to afford one square meal in a day. It’s not really easy.

–Jimoh Ibrahim, Launderer

Hmmm I think #ENDSARS will change things, because police passed their boundary. For instance here I usually witness a situation where police will arrest boys and still lock them up for no reason. I personally even supported #EndSars protest, so now, things are changing, in the past one week, the police have been coming out to harass people. Before now, these bike men could not stay here without harassment from police. I think with the protest they have calmed down.

Not only police I think all uniform men too including LASTMA officials. Also things are too expensive in the market. As a youth, government should empower us; most of us are not employed.

– Funmi, Entreprenuer

Though this protest as pass a message and I wish for most national issues will be protested as this (#EndSars protest).For the  #EndSars might be we have make much difference but for now it has sunk into head of our government that police part of Nigeria system needs attention, they need  a particular kind of curbing.

They are some excesses in them that need to be curb so that has sank into the head of government and they will do something about. For other issues, for instance  the issue with electricity you can mount same pressure on government the way we did it in two weeks we will see result. If we constantly do this will put government representative in check.

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The #EndSARS protests has change the narrative majority have a stake. It also shows we are part of government and everybody should take responsibility, something about the #EndSARS protests that most persons will not take note is that, you a youth during #EndSars fellow youth will pick debris to keep the protest ground clean. It speak a lot about responsibility of making the country better.

Lawerence Olishon,

DEARREADER, PLEASE, LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. WHAT HAS CHANGED AFTER THE #ENDSARS PROTESTS?