ASSOCIATION OF PHILOSOPHY PROFESSIONALS OF NIGERIA (APPON)
(FORMERLY NIGERIA PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION, NPA)
RC: 144315
Professor Alloy Ihuah,
National President,
Phone: 08026242031
Email: profalloyihuah@gmail.com

18th October, 2020.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,
APPON STANDS WITH THE #ENDSARSNOW #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY PROTESTS
I write on the mandate of the Congress of the Association of Philosophy Professionals of Nigeria (APPON) to express our support for the current nationwide protests against SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad) and Police Brutality in Nigeria. These are not times to be silent; silence can mean complicity!
Our support for the ongoing protests is not only because we think SARS/Police Brutality should end now, but that Nigerians deserve better. As a body of Philosophy Professionals in Nigeria, we are persuaded to note that Police Brutality in Nigeria is but a minuscule of the overall brutality of the State on her citizens. The current wave of protests is perceived by us as an important starting point to addressing the deeper issues of callousness and impunity that have consistently characterized our security architecture. We therefore, call for the immediate end to these deeper and broader levels of brutality.
Let it also be made clear that any form of the use of force against protesters, as is already evident from images on the social media, is completely incongruous with the intentions for the establishment of a government. To send security operatives after innocent and unarmed youths who are protesting, is to suggest that they are breaking the laws of the land. Nowhere in the Nigerian Constitution, which is the grand norm of the land, are peaceful protests criminalised. Thus, we condemn all forms of brutality against the protesters, and note that these forms of government response to crises situations, are what, ipso facto justify the protests.
We salute the resolve of the youths and all who are on the streets. They have demonstrated resilience and candour in the face of unimaginable provocations. We encourage them to continue in the peaceful manner in which they have conducted themselves so far. There should be no violence and no breaking of the law.
The Nigeria Police Force should be reminded that this protest does not undermine them or their services to this country in anyway. In fact, the fruits of these protests will be first to the benefit of the members of the force, and then to all of us as citizens of this country. We admonish the government to understand that the power of the people is more than the people in power, and as such, they should oblige the protesters and make reasonable concessions rather than resorting to the use of intimidation or force.
We also encourage members of our Association to hit the streets in their own very little ways in this struggle. Those who cannot hit the physical streets can make good use of the digital streets (the various social media platforms).
Once again, the protesters are assured of our support and highest regards in this resolve to make Nigeria better for each and every one of us.

Thank you.


Philip Adah Idachaba, PhD.
National Secretary,
For Association of Philosophy Professionals of Nigeria.

The intellectuals are given the ideological base to the protests, it will surely go far.