END SARS: RETELLING OUR STORIES, SIX MONTHS LATER

Olu-Ojegbeje Lolade
It has been six months since young Nigerians were shot dead at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th October, 2020, simply for asking the Police to stop killing Nigerians. Events have shaped the history of this nation and this is one that has taken a significant seat in the history of Nigeria. Sadly, the October 20 killing is still very much disputed by conspiracy theorists whose only aim is mischief. It is therefore important to tell our own stories, exactly the way we want them to be told. This time, not with the fear that clouded our minds that night in October. But with pride, hope and courage that we have been able to stand up for what is right, in the midst of gross wrongs. That we have been able to rise up to do what our fathers could not do. That there is a shift in the narrative of this country because this ‘pressing phone’ generation is wide awake, never to slumber again. Because this is our land, we will take it and defend it.

With what seemed like a ‘Twitter movement’, people sharing the stories of their horrible experiences with the SARS operatives, it became obvious we had only two options. Take action and be free or be quiet and let them kill us all. We chose the best. This Coconut-head Generation took to the streets, to make sure our voices were heard. And yes, our voices mattered, locally and internationally.

The two weeks of the END SARS protest were the most defining for many, The achievements of young Nigerian in those last two weeks, are enough to renew anyon hope in a better Nigeria. In those two weeks, END SARS became a metaphor to represent the pain of every Nigerian. It became the voice for the child who cannot access proper education because someone stole the funds meant to build her a school. It represented the pain of the husband whose wife had to die during child birth, because someone didn’t pay the doctors. It became a metaphor for End Corruption, Give us Good Roads, Healthcare, Jobs. The protest saw the amplifying of the voices we had locked away in sighs, pain and miserable years of hopeless recycling of the “lesser evils”.

In those two weeks, we fed ourselves, provided security, communication systems, legal aids, medical services, watched one another’s backs. We achieved a total package of what no government has successfully given us in their eight or four years, at least. Ironically, it was that period the video of the governor of Cross River, Ben Ayade, embarrassing himself, ‘acting’ and whining about the things didn’t achieve after years of being in power, despite how ‘prepared’ he was surfaced online. However, these Lazy Nigerian Youths achieved all of what he ‘prepared’ for and still couldn’t do in four years, in two weeks, unprepared.

The most beautiful thing about the protest would perhaps be how we came together from different places, abandoning our ambitions, religious views, sexual orientations, as well as cultural backgrounds to demand a better life, a future for ourselves and generations to come.

Although our hearts are grieve for our lost brothers and sisters, we are assured that their names would not peter out like some taboo that is not to be mentioned. Their names are engraved in gold upon our hearts, and we will shout them loud, without shame. Their memories will no longer be kept away in grief and pain. But we will say their names and never be afraid. Although the system failed them, we will not. We will rebuild our land, so their bullet wounds can heal properly and then, they can rest peacefully, on the soils of their fathers.

So no, we will not bow our heads in shame. We will no longer let anyone make us silent or feed us lies. We will no longer let them make us feel we are being favoured by giving us our rights. We will no longer let the ridiculous stories of snakes swallowing money be heard amongst us. We forbid! We shall speak of these things with pride and not let anyone make us feel less. In years to come, these are the stories that will matter. We are wide awake, never to slumber again. And no, it is not over!