President, Nigerian Canadian Association, GTA/Ontario KEMI AMUSAN (Lady Kay) 

The Nigerian Canadian Association in Toronto  (NCA),  Canada today released a communique to condemn the  shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on Tuesday.  In a Press Release available to http://www.oasesnews.com the communique was signed by the President of the Association; Ms. Kemi Amusan.    

Find below the Press Release.

#ENDSARS: ON CIVILITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS WE STAND
A COMMUNIQUE FROM THE NIGERIAN CANADIAN ASSOCIATION (NCA) GREATER TORONTO AREA, CANADA

The pattern of agitations and struggle against brutality and oppression of young people in Nigeria has taken an unprecedented, unimaginable, dangerous, appalling dimension as we witness with shock the killing and maiming of vibrant, young, innocent Nigerians!!! We hereby sympathize and offer our condolences to the families affected. May God console you as no words are strong enough to express our sadness at these senseless, unimaginable killings. May the departed souls, who were rightly agitating for better lives, rest in perfect peace while we pray for quick recovery for those that have been wounded during this protest. May God heal you speedily. Amen.

As Nigerian Canadians, we are familiar and identify with the yearnings of the Youths in Nigeria to stand up for themselves, against a nation that has failed them woefully in every ramification from unemployment to nepotism, corruption, impunity to insecurity. Situations that have led to the youths finding themselves desperately struggling to eke out a living well below their standards, trainings and education.

The truth: THE YOUTHS HAVE LONG BEEN IGNORED AND LEFT ALONE TO CATER FOR THEMSELVES.  NIGERIA HAS FAILED THE YOUTHS.

It is against this backdrop that the Youths desperately took to the streets to be heard. Justifiably believing that the Nation would finally acknowledge them and care for them.  As we all know, it is within the fundamental human rights of individuals to peacefully agitate for better lives. While agitation for change of governmental policies and procedures, like the repressive activities of a tactical unit of the police, popularly known as Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS), is in tandem with every tenet of democracy, the Nigerian Canadians cringe with shock by the inhumane response of Nigerian government and it's agencies.

First and foremost, the Nigerian Constitution, in it's chapter 2,  section 14, subsection 2b, clearly stipulates that the Welfare and Security of the people form the principal statutory obligation of the government before any other considerations.

Regrettably, the security of Nigerians in the country for a long time has been totally ignored. Most especially where the youths are concerned and most appalling are cases of recent events in the country. We are still at a loss why desperate cries of the oppressed youths about highhandedness, and repressive attitudes of SARS, that have long been ignored, could be met with live bullets being fired at these young protesters!!! The Youths have done nothing untoward except, within their rights, stage a peaceful protest at Lekki Toll gate, Lagos, on Tuesday, October 20, 2020.

That the Tuesday, October 20, 2020 was written in blood in Lagos is understatement. Tuesday, October 20, 2020 remains the darkest moment in the history of Nigerian nation.  Unfortunately, it was a signal of impeding National calamity, the results which we are already witnessing in the anarchy that has ensued throughout the nation with the loss of control of security nationwide as we speak.

As we speak, security of lives and properties has totally broken down. Lawlessness, arson, burglary, insecurity, impunity, broad day robbery are being witnessed as the resultant effect of Nigerian government’s insensitive response to genuine demands of the youths. It is against this backdrop that the NIGERIAN CANADIAN ASSOCIATION, GREATER TORONTO AREA, ONTARIO, CANADA (NCA) calls on the Nigerian Government, as a matter of urgency and utmost importance, to quickly move and retrace its steps to save the nation and restore tranquility and sanity.

To worsen the situation, the Presidential address to the nation, after ignoring the people for so long, was a total disconnect from the citizens and events as being witnessed for too long in the country. The address lacked empathy, human feelings, hope and assurances that the people seek.

Therefore, we demand as follows:
1. An urgent review of governmental policies to strengthen democracy and rule of law, for the purpose of entrenching true federalism and fiscal equality in Nigeria.
2. Respect of the fundamental rights of the populace must be respected.
3. Demands and aspirations of the young people, which form the bedrocks of the agitations of citizens nationwide, should as a matter of urgency, be looked into.
4. Put policies in place to enable the youths secure meaningful jobs to fend for themselves.

We also call on the international community, especially Canada where we reside, to intervene and state their positions on the issue of democratic ethos and human rights. We appeal to them to help put pressure on the Nigerian government and its agencies to listen to the populace and start rebuilding the nation by:

1. Imposing sanctions both economic and diplomatic on the political class and their families.
2. Freeze their assets here in Canada.
3. Revoke their existing visas, refuse to issue new visas for them and their family members.
4. Condemn the extrajudicial killings going on right now and the perpetrators to be brought to book.
5. Put pressure on the Nigerian government carry out reforms in the: Police, Education, the Armed Forces, Health and Transportation.
6. A complete restructuring of the country. We do say no to the lopsided federalism that we currently have. It is not working.
7. Help to liaise with the Federal government of Canada to put pressure to bear on the federal government of Nigeria.

Finally, we appeal to protesters to be civil and non-violent in their demand, and channel every agitation towards paradigm shift for the good of all Nigerians.

God Bless Nigeria!!!

‘Kemi Amusan (Lady Kay)
President, Nigerian Canadian Association, Greater Toronto Area (NCA)
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