Billionaire philanthropist Mo Ibrahim on Monday hit out at the Nigerian federal government for a crackdown on unarmed civilians during #EndSARS protest, a protest that spilt over into wider calls for better governance.

Human rights monitor Amnesty International has said security forces shot and killed 12 people during the protest in Lagos, on October 20.

But the military last week denied shooting live rounds, insisting that soldiers only fired blanks at the crowds who had gathered in defiance of a curfew.

“I really don’t understand why the government needed to attack peaceful demonstrators,” Ibrahim, a Sudanese-British businessman who made his fortune in telecoms, told AFP.

“This is what bothers me, this closing of space, of civil society. The right of people to stand up and say their views is a sacred right, and that was totally unacceptable.”

Ibrahim was speaking after his foundation suggested that governance progress had slowed across Africa for the first time in a decade, even before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

In particular, the report by the Mo Ibrahim Index of African Governance, published every two years, found that the commitment to democracy and civil rights had faltered.

amerengues:
Hmmm

I have vehemently opined that REAL change is hairsbreadth away from happening. My sincere prayer is to rekindle the spirited effort witnessed few weeks ago during the protest. I know that 2023 may be too far to wait for us to use our PVC but the movement starts now.

It is only the untrained eye that won’t see the panic and apprehension that envelopes the space of this present government. They are scared of the spirit that consumes this present youth even at the face of outright intimidation. Let’s be resolute! I know some people somewhere are waiting to hijack any protest to portray harmless and peaceful protesters as bad. Let’s stay clear of protest for now because of the wanton damage it has caused.

My earnest prayer is for God to install a leader in Nigeria who has the fear of God and the sole interest of the people at heart. A leader who isn’t going be chosen because of race, age, gender, ethnic coloration or whatsoever be it political virgin or not.

God grant us a competent leader.

obami007:
Everyone should actually speak out against police brutality

amerengues:
Hmmm

I have vehemently opined that REAL change is hairsbreadth away from happening. My sincere prayer is to rekindle the spirited effort witnessed few weeks ago during the protest. I know that 2023 may be too far to wait for us to use our PVC but the movement starts now.

It is only the untrained eye that won’t see the panic and apprehension that envelopes the space of this present government. They are scared of the spirit that consumes this present youth even at the face of outright intimidation. Let’s be resolute! I know some people somewhere are waiting to hijack any protest to portray harmless and peaceful protesters as bad. Let’s stay clear of protest for now because of the wanton damage it has caused.

My earnest prayer is for God to install a leader in Nigeria who has the fear of God and the sole interest of the people at heart. A leader who isn’t going be chosen because of race, age, gender, ethnic coloration or whatsoever be it political virgin or not.

God grant us a competent leader.

emerged01:
What makes democracy when people can’t stand up to say their mind? What youth need is strong unity to stand up against oppressive govt.

amerengues:
Hmmm

I have vehemently opined that REAL change is hairsbreadth away from happening. My sincere prayer is to rekindle the spirited effort witnessed few weeks ago during the protest. I know that 2023 may be too far to wait for us to use our PVC but the movement starts now.

It is only the untrained eye that won’t see the panic and apprehension that envelopes the space of this present government. They are scared of the spirit that consumes this present youth even at the face of outright intimidation. Let’s be resolute! I know some people somewhere are waiting to hijack any protest to portray harmless and peaceful protesters as bad. Let’s stay clear of protest for now because of the wanton damage it has caused.

My earnest prayer is for God to install a leader in Nigeria who has the fear of God and the sole interest of the people at heart. A leader who isn’t going be chosen because of race, age, gender, ethnic coloration or whatsoever be it political virgin or not.

God grant us a competent leader.

amerengues:
Hmmm

I have vehemently opined that REAL change is hairsbreadth away from happening. My sincere prayer is to rekindle the spirited effort witnessed few weeks ago during the protest. I know that 2023 may be too far to wait for us to use our PVC but the movement starts now.

It is only the untrained eye that won’t see the panic and apprehension that envelopes the space of this present government. They are scared of the spirit that consumes this present youth even at the face of outright intimidation. Let’s be resolute! I know some people somewhere are waiting to hijack any protest to portray harmless and peaceful protesters as bad. Let’s stay clear of protest for now because of the wanton damage it has caused.

My earnest prayer is for God to install a leader in Nigeria who has the fear of God and the sole interest of the people at heart. A leader who isn’t going be chosen because of race, age, gender, ethnic coloration or whatsoever be it political virgin or not.

God grant us a competent leader.