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Coalition Of Protest Groups Outlines Way Forward For #EndSARS Campaign

Coalition Of Protest Groups has set in motion plans to nominate representatives to spearhead engagement with government

As the #EndSARS protests wind down and normalcy begins to come back to the streets of the major cities in Nigeria, the Coalition Of Protest Groups have put out a statement outlining the next phase of action.

Lagos, the epicenter of the protests has been under state-wide curfew imposed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu after the peaceful protests were hijacked by hoodlums. Prior to that, Soldiers attacked peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate shooting live ammunition at unarmed protesters.

In a statement put out by the Coalition Of Protest Groups, “For the sake of the wellbeing of our comrades and ordinary citizens being adversely affected by this, we will deprioritize the physical protests, for now”

The identity of the people behind this coalition has become a talking point bearing in mind that their has been a vehement refusal by majority of the protesters across the country to put up a leadership structure around the movement.

The people behind this coalition remain unknown though their line of action look in tandem with the demands of the protesters. They have outlined seven objectives in the next few days and are proposing the nominations of leaders and representatives to meet with different protest leaders/blocs across the country/states, and consolidate on a vehicle for continuous demands and engagements with government.

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Read the full Statement the Coalition Of Protest Groups Below:

1. Clean Up
During our protests, we made a conscious effort to clean up the venues and keep our environment safe for everyone. Following the condemnable vandalizations that took place since the curfews began, we are volunteering efforts towards the clean-up and rebuilding of the state.
2. Online Protest
We will continue to intensify online publicity and protest of the issues and demands made. We will be hosting conversations, sharing articles and amplifying voices of thought leaders in that direction.
3. Offline Community Engagement
We will continue grassroot mobilization and civic education of the masses, providing tools for education to enable them to understand the scale and scope of what is at stake.
4. Timelines
We are putting a timeline together to track actions taken to meet our demands. This way, we know what has been done, what is being done, and what can be ticked off our list. This way, we know if and when the government defaults, and we can decide if a return to the streets is necessary.

Also Read: Lekki Massacre: Prominent Voices From Around The World Condemn Shooting Of Protesters

5. Strategy
We are building short, medium- and long-term strategies to sustain this momentum and keep this fire that has been ignited by the actions of young people across Nigeria burning. The strategies are pillared on and geared towards Education, Voter Registration, Political Consciousness and Representation for Young People in government.
6. Structure
We will create a structure to strategically consolidate demands, formalize the coalition, galvanize the continued online protest, develop standards for monitoring and evaluation, and continue the mobilization and education of the citizens.

7. Representation
The leaderless nature of this protest but consistent oneness in demands have been part of our unique strengths. As we move towards consolidation and negotiation, it is now pertinent we put forward a diverse group to represent the different coalitions; from celebrities to activists, legal minds to strategists, journalists to entrepreneurs, etc. We consulted far and wide, to come up with these names, and while this may not be exhaustive, it offers us an interim basis to begin the negotiation and consolidation.
The nominees will meet with different protest leaders/blocs across the country/states, and consolidate on a vehicle for continuous demands. They will also track actions of the Government, represent our demands and provide feedback to us regularly.

They are:
Names of Nominees at the Federal level:

Click to Vote: https://forms.gle/6jNg5npm4UpbxcGJ7

Names of Nominees at the State level: (Lagos)

Click to Vote: https://forms.gle/btKtvJitkJNKq7eK8

Advisory:
Due to the decentralized nature of this movement across the country, we nominate a team with experience in leadership and diplomacy, to assist in advisory and other support. This team will be consulted from time to time within the process. The criteria are people with integrity, people who have a vast experience in national issues, and who have a track record of being pro-young people.

Nominees for Advisory Board

Click to Vote: https://forms.gle/kJbAm7Ukp2j9ATMZ7

All nominations are provisional. If there are people you think should be on the list, people who have been critical in the success of these protests and can work towards the actualization of our demands, and the ultimate mission — a better government/future for Nigeria, please nominate.
In conclusion, these protests have never been politically motivated. It is not about ethnicity or tribalism. The young people across the country are demanding justice, good governance, accountability and reforms. These protests have no sponsor nor agenda other than what we have stated repeatedly; better governance, accountability and an end to brutality.
To everyone who has lost someone or something, we stand in solidarity with you.
To all our heroes that died before and during these struggles, we say Rest in Power! Your deaths will not be in vain.
It is NOT finished!
On behalf of the Coalition.
Please Share this with a friend. SHARE THE WORD!!!

News

FULL LIST: Covenant emerges Nigeria’s best university for 2024

Covenant University has again secured the top spot in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024.

The ranking, which evaluates universities across various performance metrics, placed the Ota-based institution ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, reaffirming its position as a higher-education leader.

The rankings, which surveyed 1,907 universities across 108 countries, assessed the institutions based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

CU emerged as Nigeria’s best, outperforming the University of Ibadan, the Federal University of Technology Akure, and the University of Lagos, which ranked second, third, and fourth respectively

The 2024 list also reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 134 million citations from 16.5 million research publications analyzed and survey responses from over 68,000 scholars collected globally.

Other Nigerian universities making the top ten include Bayero University, University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and Afe Babalola University. The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta also earned a spot in the top tier, securing 10th place.

1. Covenant University

2. University of Ibadan

3. Federal University of Technology Akure

4. University of Lagos

5. Bayero University

6. University of Ilorin

7. University of Nigeria, Nsukka

8. Afe Babalola University

9. University of Benin

10. Federal University ofAgriculture, Abeokuta

11. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology

12. Lagos State University

13. Nnamdi Azikiwe University

14. Obafemi Awolowo University

15. University of Port Harcourt

16. Abia State University

17. Akwa Ibom State University

18. Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike

19. Babcock University

20. Baze University

21. Bells University of Technology

22. Benson Idahosa University

23. Delta State University, Abraka

24. Edo State University, Uzairue

25. Edwin Clarke University

26. Elizade University

27. Evangel University, Akaeze

29. Federal University of Kashere

30. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun

31. Federal University of Technology, Minna

32. Federal University of Technology, Owerri

33. Fountain University

34. Landmark University

35. Nasarawa State University, Keffi

36. Niger Delta University

37. Plateau State University, Bokkos

38. Thomas Adewumi University

39. Veritas University, Abuja

40. Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kan

News

Court bars VIO from confiscating vehicles, imposing fines on motorists

A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a ruling prohibiting the Directorate of Road Traffic Services, commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), from stopping vehicles on the road, impounding or confiscating them, and imposing fines on motorists.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Evelyn Maha on October 2, stems from a fundamental rights enforcement suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by human rights activist and public interest attorney Abubakar Marshal.

In her ruling, Justice Maha affirmed Marshal’s assertion that there is no legal basis for the VIO and its officials to stop, impound, or confiscate vehicles or to levy fines against motorists.

The order also extends to the Director of Road Transport, the Area Commander in Jabi, and the Team Leader in Jabi, with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) listed as a respondent

Additionally, the court issued a restraining order against the respondents, preventing them and their agents from impounding or confiscating vehicles or imposing fines, labeling such actions as wrongful, oppressive, and unlawful.

Justice Maha further granted a perpetual injunction to protect the rights of Nigerians, ensuring their freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and right to own property without lawful justification.

This landmark ruling is expected to have significant implications for traffic enforcement practices and motorists’ rights in Nigeria.

Celebs

Falana denies demanding ₦10m from Bobrisky for Presidential Pardon

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has dismissed the allegation that Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky while serving his six-month jail sentence from a purported private apartment reached out to him to seek a presidential pardon.

In a recent viral video, Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan, claimed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) dropped the money laundering charges against the popular cross-dresser after receiving ₦15 million.

In a recorded conversation Otse played online, a voice believed to be Bobrisky’s was heard saying Falana and his son, Folarin Falana aka Falz, tried to get him a presidential pardon in exchange for ₦10,000,000.

While releasing the audio conversation aimed at exposing the alleged corruption involving Bobrisky and officials of the EFCC and the Nigeria Correctional Service, Otse said the Falanas would lose the respect he has for them if the cross-dresser’s claims about them were true.

In response to the allegation, the lawyer while speaking on Channels TV on Thursday, October 3, 2024, debunked the claim, saying he has never met Bobrisky.

“Bobrisky never spoke to me. I have never met him. I do not know him from Adam. He allegedly spoke to my son, Folarin (Falz),” he said.

Contrary to the presidential pardon claim, Falana said the cross-dresser approached Falz his son on May 4, requesting for ₦3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison.

“My son said this guy (Bobrisky) was appealing to people for assistance and called my son on May 4 or thereabout this year and said can you give me ₦3 million to be placed in a special part of the prison — we call it VIP section.

“And my son said, ‘are you calling me under the authorization of the superintendent of prisons?’ He said no. Then Falz said ‘don’t call me again. I’m unable to assist you to bribe the prison authorities. And be very careful, since you are already in jail for an offence. Please, if you are going to call me next time, you either do it through the superintendent, or you write a letter endorsed by the prison authorities.” the Lagos lawyer said.

Falana emphasized that his son has never negotiated fees on behalf of anybody.

Having threatened to institute legal action against Otse, the human rights lawyer described his action as infantile radicalism, saying he would make him a deterrent to other social media users who use their platforms to defame people.

Meanwhile, the EFCC’s head of the prosecution team, Bilikisu Bala, has denied the bribery allegation against the commission.

While appearing before the House of Reps committee investigating the matter, Bala said the anti-corruption agency legally dropped the money laundering charges against the controversial cross-dresser because the EFCC could not sustain the charges.