Due to the ongoing blame game currently being displayed by several actors both online and offline, the general public needs to be aware of the following feedback report as to the progress of the conversation held with the Oyo State Government on the Demands of the mass movement of citizens during the END SARS protests that rocked the State and Nation.
The first engagement with His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde was on Tuesday, October 13, 2020, during the massive protest held at the secretariat that was tagged ‘Mother of all Protests’. The Governor at the gathering amidst several submissions, announced that he would reach out to protesters and discussion would be initiated to ensure that the government does respond to all demands.
Fast forward to last week Friday, 23 October 2020, a meeting was convened by the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Seun Fakorede on Friday, 23rd October 2020 and held at the office of the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo state.
The agenda of the meeting was “The way-forward on the END SARS Peaceful Protest”. The meeting had in attendance Twenty-Three (23) “Front-liners” of the “END SARS” Protesters in Ibadan, comprising Social Media Influencers, Community Organizers, Youth, and Student Leaders.
After several hours of deliberation on the “END SARS” protest and pushing for a way forward so as to make sure that the youth in the state have confidence that their protest has not been in vain, the following are/were the Resolutions;
1) That the Oyo State Government should immediately set up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution which will receive and investigate complaints of police brutality in Oyo State.
2) That the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution Session should be aired live so as to make the citizen of the state observe and watch the proceedings.
3) That the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution should have transparent sessions.
4) That the set-up of Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution should be an all-inclusive one.
5) Domestication of items 1-3 of the #5FOR5 Demands, which are;
• Immediate release of all arrested protesters. (The Commissioner acknowledged that the Government had effected the release of several protesters and asked that if there’s anyone left that we’re aware of, we should bring such cases to the notice of the Government)
• Justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and appropriate compensation for their families.
After that meeting, precisely on Tuesday, 27 October 2020, we were notified and invited to a stakeholder meeting scheduled to take place at the House of Chiefs, situated within the Oyo State House of Assembly Complex.
During the Stakeholders meeting, the Governor met with Artisans, Okada/Micra Operators, Youths, and Representatives of End SARS in Ibadan. Speakers from each group tabled different issues that they wanted the Governor to address.
When Governor responded to our demands he stated the following;
– That the youths should send in Representatives that would be included in the make up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry so that we all would be part of the process of the dispensation of justice and also monitor how the initial N500M set up to compensate victims of injustice is utilized. (Which is a direct Commitment of Action in meeting demands 2 & 3 of the #5FOR5 Demands).
– That Youth representatives will be a part of those to monitor how the N500M fund set up for MSMEs is disbursed.
– That the issue of state police which was raised by Akeju (who spoke on behalf of the #ENDSARS group), was a constitutional matter which will need to be pursued by the legislative arm at the state and federal levels.
– That, working with the current structure, Oyo State will have members of the Amotekun Corps in all 351 wards in the state and that He would be responsible for their actions.
From the foregoing, I do not see how practicable or possible it is for the Claims of being bought over is going to stand. Personally, I would have expected that some respected individuals would have done due diligence to enquire and investigate before casting aspersions on the credibility of several individuals.
The question here should be; WHAT ARE OUR DEMANDS? HAS THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDED CONVINCINGLY TO MEETING OUR DEMANDS? HOW DO WE GET TO SELECT THE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE #ENDSARS GROUPS? (Using this medium, to publicly request that Governor Seyi Makinde should increase the slot to promote gender equality and balance on the panel) and finally, WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT LINE/PLAN OF ACTION FOR THE #ENDSARS MOVEMENT IN THE STATE?
While some individuals have been deliberately Mischievous and Hypocritical about the events that happened after the meeting, I would refuse to join words with anyone and would leave things to God and Time, very soon Things would reveal themselves for what they are, whether I compromised or sold out the struggle.
Understandably, we may not all agree on the context, rationality of things, but my Conscience is very clear that I did no wrong and will continue to push for the demands of the ongoing Campaign against Police Brutality and would also continue to use my voice and platforms to demand answers from the Federal Government as to WHO ORDERED THE LEKKI SHOOTING?
We must not lose sight of the phase that we are in, we cannot afford to relent, and we must continue to carry one another notwithstanding our frailties or inadequacies or shortcomings, correct one another with love and fairness, educate ourselves, and REMAIN FOCUSED.
I support the views expressed by FALZ that ‘THIS IS HALF TIME’, and that WE WOULD BE BACK if our DEMANDS are not MET
Let us begin to mobilize and educate the citizenry. Let us Clean Up our Communities and engage all Residents within our Space; we need to come back stronger and with many more educated about our demands.
Finally, for the sake of CLARITY, NO ONE BRIBED ME, I simply exercised my right of discretion to either accept or reject a ‘Gift’ based on my personal conviction as to the intentions behind the ‘Gifting’.
I still stand by my Decision, notwithstanding the wave of CYBERBULLYING targeted at me by certain individuals and I sincerely do hope that You all would Respect that.
Temitope Ishola (Temmy Gista)
