Youths should link #EndSARS protests to 2023 elections – Atedo Peterside

The Chairman of the ANAP foundation, Atedo Peterside, has urged young protesters on the streets of Nigeria fighting against police brutality to link the protests to the upcoming 2023 general elections.

“I think the #EndSARS protests had everybody rattled as people didn’t expect such a big followership. I advise the youths to link all these to 2023. The time is now. Some of the older politicians will tell you it’s too early, it’s a lie,” Peterside said during an interview on Arise Television this morning.

Peterside said the social media influencers and organiser’s of the protests need to have control over the protests and followership as power without control is dangerous.

He also canvassed support for Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in these trying times.

“We as elders should have done more to protect the young people. We need Sanwo-Olu to succeed, and it’s time for cooperation,” Peterside said.

“Everybody needs support. Sanwo-Olu has been under pressure. Every Governor in Nigeria must wake up and ensure there are no attacks in their states.”

He further said that one simple signal the youth can send is that they will not support anybody who today is above the age 60. And if they unite on that, all the governors and ambitious people who are below the age of 60 will be competing to get favour from them and impress you with the reforms that you ask for

“They will show you that they are the ones working for you. Don’t reject them, use them and manipulate them because it is your right and that is the way you claim your country back,” he pointed out.

On the night of October 20, 2020, Nigerian Armed Forces shot at End SARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos. The number of casualties disputed, with the Nigerian government claiming one possible death while Amnesty International stated that 12 protesters were killed.

Atedo sympathised with the families who have lost loved ones. On the issue of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s televised speech where he addressed the international community, the youths, amongst other issues, but glaringly failed to mention the Lekki toll gate killings, Atedo had wished that the president would have made reference to the those who lost their lives because every life is important.

“We are a federation. In a federation, governors must rise up. The most important of speeches is governors getting up in their various states to condole people to take charge,” he said.