Protesting
youths in Imo State that he is with them in their demand that far-reaching
reforms be carried out in the Police in Nigeria to bring the operations of the
personnel at par with what is obtainable in the civilized world.
The governor, therefore, told the youths to trust him to ensure that all the issues they raised concerning police brutality, unlawful detention of Nigerian youths, harassment, extortion, poor remuneration, and comprehensive reformation in the police are brought to the attention of the powers that be, particularly, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Addressing
the #EndSARS protesters at the State Capital Owerri on Tuesday, the governor
said he was in support of the peaceful protest to the extent that youths are
critical stakeholders in the society and anything that concerns them should be
taken seriously because they are leaders of tomorrow.
The
Governor thanked the youths for conducting themselves in a manner that did not
offend public interest and acknowledged that at the political level they have
met and agreed that the compliant of the Nigerian youths are genuine and must
be promptly addressed.
He
added that preliminary investigations revealed that the relationship between
SARS operatives and the youths, including students at the tertiary
institutions, has not been cordial.
Governor
Uzodimma said disbanding SARS is not the only solution, but that the protest
has provided an opportunity for government to look inwards to see what reforms
are necessary in the Nigerian Police vis a vis their welfare, remunerations,
training, among other things they need to be globally compliant in their mode
of operation.
“No
nation with its senses will ignore the grievances of the youths because if the
nation does so it must have squandered the destiny of that nation. If a nation
appreciates the capacity building of her youth population, that nation must
have created a better tomorrow for herself,” the governor said and reiterated
that, “the matter under contention will be taken very seriously.”
He
however enjoined the youths to be their own-man and not to allow anybody, or
any political interest, to hijack the protest. He advised them to go about their
businesses in a manner that nobody will molest them.
Governor
Uzodimma assured the youths of partnership and that his government is working
hard to create an enabling environment where every youth will go about their
businesses, earning their living genuinely “without unnecessary and undue
molestations by any person or group of persons.”
On
the call for Nigeria to embark on reform and retraining of the Police the
governor said: “Our Police Officers must
be trained to be able to match their counterparts all over the world and we are
going to do that.”
He
reinforced the general notion that the youths are not protesting against the
police doing their work, but saying that they should do their work according to
international standard. “I am with you on that,” Governor Uzodimma told them.
He
assured them that there will be no attacks on them and that nobody will hold
the protest against them, reiterating that he has taken their message and will
ensure that the message gets to the President of Nigeria who also believes that
“the right thing must be done”.
He
assured the youths that as the Governor of Imo State “the police must do their
job in an ethical manner that will not offend the sensibility of the citizens.”
He
used the opportunity to call on Imo youths to work together with him to repair
Imo State, saying he is doing everything possible to bequeath to the next
generation, “quality youths that will meet the dreams of the founding fathers
of State.”
Earlier,
the various speakers among the protesting youths who tagged themselves Imo
Stars said they are asking not only for the end of SARS operations, but police
brutality, justice for youths killed by SARS, prosecution of reckless officers involved in the killing of
youths, end to police extortion, intimidation, harassment and unlawful
detention of the youths and students of tertiary institutions.
Some
of the inscriptions on the placards displayed by the protesters read “End
SARS”, “Good cloths don’t make me a criminal”, Stop Police extortion”, “Stop
Police Intimidations and Harassments”, “Justice for those killed by SARS”, “Reckless Officers must be prosecuted,” among
others.