US Lawmaker Lauds Nigerian Youths On #EndSARS Protest
A Nigerian-born United States legislator representing Albany County in the 7th District of New York, Beroro T. Efekoro has charged youths in the country to champion fight for change, good governance and the enthronement of a better standard of living.
Efekoro made the call Tuesday, in a statement where he congratulated the youths who led protests across the nation to demand an end to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police.
According to him, the directive by the Inspector General, Mohammed Adamu to close down the unit, which is notorious for brutality and extra judicial killings, is a victory for all Nigerians home and abroad.
He however noted that while this is a major step forward in the quest for better living standard in Nigeria, the fight for justice must continue.
“There are very important pressing issues that must be addressed, and I am counting on we all to continue the fight to move the nation forward,” he said.
The lawmaker also stressed that the youths must begin to seek for political positions, pointing out that anyone can play a role in the decision-making process in the nation, but only people in elective positions have direct power to make real changes.
“As a youth and as a people ready to right the wrongs of our fathers, we must begin to strategise to restore the lost glory on Nigeria. The youth must need to organise to form alliances that will lead to political revolution in the nation.
“The 2021 budget and every budget thereafter, Nigeria youths must resist any attempt by the leaders to continue borrowing to enslave the future of our unborn children. The fight to improve the quality of life for all Nigerians has begun and must continue. No budget must be passed in the National Assembly that does not address the pressing issues of Boko Haram and killings by herdsmen, total police reform and accountability, electricity supply, education, roads and infrastructural development.”
Speaking on corruption, the lawmaker said in a nation where the average person lives on less than N900 a day, lawmakers should not be receiving N25, 000,000 plus salary in a single month, adding that they have no business executing contracts or be awarded any contract directly or indirectly by government agencies.
He said: “The awarding of contracts to politicians in the nation is something that leads to incomplete and or abandoned projects and if investigated, could be results of quid-pro-quo.
“It is the job of politicians to monitor and ensure that projects in their constituencies are completed by the companies they are contracted, but not for politicians themselves to be contractors.”
Efekoro charged the youths to continue to stand up against bad leadership everywhere and anywhere.
“It is time for change in Nigeria, real change, and the youths must not relent in that effort to fight for the common good of the nation. Nigerian youths are not “yahoo boys”. Nigerians are smart, intelligent and hardworking people who strive for success in all professions. Nigeria must be activated for greatness and now,” he said.
