The Eminent Elders Forum (EEF), an apolitical, non-religious, non-tribal/ethnic, non-racial and non-discriminatory body of highly cerebral, accomplished and diversely distinguished eminent elders across the country, has thrown its weight behind the #ENDSARS protest by Nigerian youths.

It also stressed the “urgent need to review the 1999 Constitution to, at least, inject the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference with its recommendations.”

The eminent elders made their views known via a press statement that captured their resolutions during their on-line meeting held on October 23, 2020 on the #ENDSARS protest.

Below is the text of the statement signed by Professor Chukwuemeka Eze Onukaogu – Chairman, Resolutions/Communique Committee; Hajia Dr. Baraka Sani – Co-Chair, Resolutions/Communique Committee; Elder Muyiwa Ayo-Vaughan – Secretary, Resolutions/Communique Committee; Elder Smollette Adetoyese Shittu-Alamu – Chairman, Media & Publicity Committee; Chief Anayo Arinze – Secretary, Media and Publicity Committee; and Professor Echefuna ’Rotimi. G. ONYEBEADI – Convener/Coordinator:

THE STATE OF OUR COUNTRY:

The recent happenings in our country and particularly the #ENDSARS peaceful protests across the country by our youths, is something that should be of great concern to all well meaning people.

We had an online deliberations for several hours on Thursday, October 23, 2020 on the state of our country including the trending #End SARS peaceful protests by the youths across the country.

We observed that the agitations of the youths are well founded thus signalling our collective failure to which we as Elders cannot, in all sincere rationalisation, extricate ourselves.

We own up to our collective failure or at least part thereof.

Now that many of us are deep into retirement, we cannot but lend our support for the need to squarely address the yearnings of our present and future generations as epitomised in the demands from our children and grandchildren on the streets in a peaceful protest for reformation and better future.

To this end therefore, we commend our youths for their determined peaceful protests against the barrages of our national challenges including Police brutality against the citizens.

We urge the youths not to take the laws into their hands to do anything unbecoming of or, contrary to orderly conduct.

Having made their points, the protesting youths are hereby enjoined to retreat and allow negotiations with the various governments in the Country with the Federal Government as the arrow head.

We call on governments at all levels whether local, state and federal to please take the needful actions that will assuage the bad blood already brewed and the fear of the unknown currently ravaging our dear country.

THE DEMAND OF THE YOUTHS:

The underlisted are the filtered demands of the youths:

(1) End SARS (Police Brutality)

(2) Sack Security Chiefs

(3) Improved Security

(4) Reduce Petrol Pump Price

(5) Reduction in Electricity Bill

(6) Create Jobs

(7) Stop Banditry and Killer Herdsmen

(8) Inclusive Government with 50% youths

(9) End ASUU Strike

(10) Politicians should be placed on minimum wage

(11) Electoral reforms :

(a) A complete migration to a 100% electronic voting

(b) The President/Governors must have at least first university degrees or equivalent.

(12) Strip Governors/President of security votes and of all jumbo benefits after office.

(13) Scrap jumbo salaries and allowances of National Assembly members and stop completely constituency projects.

Introduce sitting allowances per sitting for Senators, House of Representative and States House of

Assembly members respectively.

(14) A new people-oriented constitution for Nigeria with full Federation or Regional System of Government as it was back in 1963.

(15) Implementation of recommendation of 2014 National Conference.

(16) Appointment of INEC Chairman/Officials should be made by Independent Body supervised by Civil Right Organizations.

17) Increase salaries of all security outfits, teachers, and Doctors/medical and paramedical etc.

EMINENT ELDERS FORUM'S RESOLUTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS:

Having deliberated extensively for several hours on the demands of the youths and the state of our country, Eminent Elders Forum resolved as follows:

We agree that the youths have genuine reasons for their agitation and protest and it is their constitutional rights to peacefully express their grievances.
There is the need for fundamental changes to be made in the polity thus:

(A) There is urgent need to review the 1999 Constitution to, at least, inject the resolutions of the 2014 National Conference with its recommendations.

(B) The Federal Government should jettison forthwith, the prevailing lopsided appointments into MDAs and their parastatals and reflect the diversity of the country in appointments among other governance issues.

(C) We call for immediate eradication of quota systems to give way to merits and competence.

(D) The Federal Government should decisively end the ongoing war against insurgents, bandits, cattle rustlers and wanton killing of innocent Nigerians across the country.

To this end, we recommend a change of Service Chiefs and the rejigging of the nation's security architecture to effectively secure the lives and properties of the citizens.

(E) We call for drastic reduction in the number of members of the National Assembly, State Assemblies and, the number of political appointees. Essentially, we call for an urgent review of the cost of governance to reflect our national economic realities even as we urge the governments to Identify and block all wastages.

(F) We commend the Federal Government's action on the abrogation of the discredited SARS and, support the youths' demand for total reform of Nigerian Police with effective decentralization of the Police to accommodate state and community policing.

(G) We condemn unequivocally, the alleged shooting of the civil protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos and the alleged use of sponsored thugs to attack the protesters including the destruction of properties.

We see such actions as barbaric that should not occur in a 21st century Nigeria.

We, therefore, call for adequate compensation for the bereaved families and the injured in this regard.

(H) The government should scrap payment of salaries and provision of constituency projects for members of the National and State Assemblies.

They should instead be placed on sitting, transport and hazard allowances as it were in the first republic's parliamentary system.

The legislature, like the other arms of government, has become too unwieldy and too expensive for the nation to sustain.

(I) All ill-gotten wealth should be identified, recovered and converted to public use.

To this end, all anti corruption agencies like the EFCC, ICPC and others should be strengthened to take the fight against corruption very seriously and live up to the expectation of the public.

(J) The Police, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others, should be revived and strengthened to protect lives and properties of citizens.

(K) The NYSC should be re-evaluated and strengthened to fulfill its founding objectives.

(L) Universities and other tertiary institutions should be made relevant to national development objectives.

There should be adequate funding for the development of the nation's universities and other tertiary institutions. Both academic and non-academic unions in tertiary institutions should be carried along in the scheme of things.

(M) We support the call for Devolution of powers to the states and local governments in a functional Federation.

(N) We support the abrogation of security votes for the President and Governors since such provision encourages corruption, impunity, lack of transparency and accountability.

Instead, all security agencies should be adequately funded to carry out their statutory functions unhindered.

(O) We, as Elders of this country, are saddened and greatly pained by the alleged killings of our children by the military and police that are created to safeguard them and defend the nation.

Government should engage the protesters in robust dialogue rather than attempting to crush them.

To this end, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, especially Nigerian Army, are strongly advised to stay off the youths peaceful protests and desist from further attacks against the protesters in any form.

We strongly condemn continued killings of citizens under whatever guise and strongly admonish that such should stop forthwith.

(P) We commend the Nigerian Police Force for withdrawing all police personnel attached to politicians, public office holders, and the so called V.I.Ps. Our Police should be redeployed to various areas that benefit the larger populace that they are engaged to protect.

(Q) We strongly advise that the peaceful protests of the Nigerian youths provides the governments a unique opportunity to dialogue with the protesters and, sincerely address the ills that plagued us as a people which have continued to hinder the development of our human and material resources.

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