Middle Belt Forum has charged the Federal Government (FG) to demonstrate sincerity to the protesting youths and Nigerians, to be able to move the protesters out of the streets.
Speaking on behalf of the Middle Belt Forum to DAILY INDEPENDENT, Isuwa Dogo, national publicity secretary of the organization said that it was deceptive for the government to spontaneously change Special Anti – Robbery Squard (SARS) to Special Weapons And Tactics Team (SWAT), thinking it would convince the protesters and take them off the street.
Dogo wondered what time the government used in planning to put up the new unit that would replace SARS. He said that the government should as a matter of urgency take the people seriously with respect to all the demands, rather than the spontaneous approach it used.
The spokesman said, “Anybobdy with average intelligence would see that the government is not serious in its approach. The new unit that it has put up, what is supposed to do?
These things should involve the National Assembly. Whatever policy that should be made must be passed into law and violators made to face the full weight of the law. It is not something the government would quickly resolve by setting up another unit to replace SARS without due diligence.
The reform should not only be in the police but in other arms of security agencies, the military, customs, immigration, federal road safety corps, etcetera.
This is because these security agencies see themselves as demi-gods, humiliating, harassing and brutalizing the citizens.”
He warned that the government should address the issues raised by the protesters and convince them of its determination to meet their demands.
He stressed that if the government failed to address the issue, even if the protestors eventually leave the streets, they could come back in a couple of weeks and when they do, it could generate into a violent revolution.
Dogo said’ “It is important that the government articulates their demands and pay attention to the issues now that the protesters are using civil means to make their demands. They are not violent. We know that this is how revolution starts and we don’t want to experience violent revolution in this country.”
