As the work of the about 30 judicial panels of
inquiry established nationwide to investigate cases of police
brutality against citizens and provide compensation for victims
where necessary continues, the Federal Government has again assured
that there would be comprehensive justice for all affected
Nigerians.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, gave the assurance today in
Lagos State at the launch of the Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund.
Prof. Osinbajo, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari,
extended the Federal Government’s “commiserations to the government
and people of Lagos State for the loss of lives of citizens, the
injured, and the colossal destruction of public and private
properties, social amenities and infrastructure.”
Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, was both the epicenter
of the #ENDSARS protests and the destruction that followed few
weeks ago.
READ ALSO: EndSars: Reps Ready To Support FG’s
Efforts To Rebuild Lagos, Other States – Gbajabiamila
Noting the unfortunate loss of lives and property in Lagos and
across the country, the Vice President added that the whole nation
was in need of healing and the Buhari administration will pursue
restorative justice for all affected.
According to the VP, referencing President Buhari’s commitment
to justice, “these deaths should never have happened. It is now our
responsibility to honour their memory and ensure that justice is
comprehensively served.
“Our State, like our Nation, is in need of healing. We recognize
that the balm for a wounded society is truth and justice. This is
why judicial panels of inquiry have been established all across the
country. Their mandate is to investigate cases of police brutality
against citizens, and where necessary compensate victims.
“Specifically, in Lagos, the mandate of the inquiry has been
expanded to include a full investigation of the Lekki toll gate
incidents. This process has begun and all Federal Agencies and the
armed services are participating actively as Mr. President said,
and I quote, ”We will also ensure that all those responsible for
misconduct or wrongful acts are brought to justice.”
“The pursuit of restorative justice, recompense for injury to
innocents and a reckoning for perpetrators of abuse are essential
components of the moral and ethical reconstruction of our
homestead. I urge all of us to give this process a chance to work
and to commit to the advocacy and participation that it will take
to enable this process succeed.”
The Vice President again emphasized the commitment of President
Muhammadu Buhari administration to reform the Nigeria Police Force
and address the root issues that led to the protests.
On the looting and destruction that followed the ENDSARS
protests, the Vice President stated, “we have seen how the noblest
causes, such as the ENDSARS protests designed to call attention to
a serious malignant problem of brutality and extrajudicial
killings, can be subverted leading to the exact opposite of its
objectives, chaos, murder, looting, and arson. We saw what can
happen when the restraints of law and order are loosed and anarchy
is given free rein.”
“In those difficult days when chaos swept from street to street
consuming lives and livelihoods, we learned that society is built
on the balance between freedom and order. But we have also realized
that order itself is a social construct sustained by the consent of
the governed.”
He called for public and private collaboration in the rebuilding
and reconstruction of the State, which he noted had not experienced
such level of wanton destruction in the past.
Prof. Osinbajo said, “it is now time to rebuild. It is time for
the painful and costly task of reconstruction and rehabilitation.
It is now time for the private sector, our international friends
and partners, and all who love this city to make their
contributions to the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. When
Lagos works, it works for all.
“On the Federal Government’s part, Mr. President has said that
he will await a full report from Your Excellency (Lagos State
Governor) and I am sure that will be on hand soon. For businesses
that were destroyed, the CBN has been developing a plan to suspend
existing facilities that they may have in banks and lines of cheap
credit to help them rebuild their damaged facilities and
re-stock.”
While describing Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, the
VP made reference to the socio-economic ripple effects the State
has on the nation as a whole.
The Vice President added, “perhaps it is worth emphasizing that
the destruction and disruption of life and work in Lagos is a
national tragedy and a major economic setback for the Nation even
as we face the most difficult economic challenges in our generation
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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“This is the State that leads by far in the collection of
non-oil revenues. The bulk of VAT is generated here. The Lagos
port, whose Marina office was attacked, generates the most revenue,
and is the busiest in the Nation; the Lagos airport is the busiest
in Nigeria. In so many ways our fortunes as a Nation are closely
tied to the fortunes of this great State.”
According to the Vice President, the government will continue to
make efforts to improve its engagement with the youth and all
Nigerians, while it continues the process of holistic reforms of
the Police. Prof. Osinbajo made a firm proposition for the
integration of young people in the new task of repositioning
society.
The Vice President noted that, “we certainly cannot afford to
alienate our young people who constitute the majority of our
society and bear the burden of enterprise, resourcefulness and
innovation required to propel our economy into the future.
“For their sake and ours, we need a broad-based and inclusive
prosperity that creates opportunities on a scale commensurate with
the aspirations of our population.”
The VP added that the task of reconstruction goes beyond
physical infrastructure or brick and mortar.
He said, “there is a moral, social and ethical reconstruction to
be undertaken as well. We must rebuild trust between the Government
and the governed; the vast majority of who are young persons; trust
between law enforcement agents and the communities that they are
meant to serve. Never again should law enforcement find itself on
opposite sides of any conflict with society.
“We must in the process rebuild the morale of our police force,
the gallant men and women who daily brave the elements to keep us
all safe. The process of reform has commenced.”
Prof. Osinbajo stated that the reformed Police Act and the
Police Trust Act signed by the President was part of government’s
efforts in improving the Police while ensuring the rights of
Nigerian citizens are protected.
“After 70 years of the Police Act, Mr. President signed the new
reformed Police Act 2020 into law. The new law contains in many
parts components of a charter of the rights of citizens when being
questioned.
“The President has also signed into law the Police Trust Act,
essentially to provide a source of extra funding for the police.
Equally, the Police has also initiated its community policing
programme aimed at reframing policing as an activity based on trust
between law enforcement and the community,” the VP said.
The Vice President also commended the leadership shown by the
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo–Olu, throughout the
challenging period.
“First, Mr. Governor, you led your State’s efforts in addressing
the COVID-19 Pandemic to both local and international acclaim. When
State Governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council
(NEC) resolved that States should establish judicial panels of
inquiry, Lagos was the very first state to constitute its inquiry.
Your actions have been an example of responsibility, creativity,
sensitivity and resolve under pressure.”
The VP added that “Lagos and the Nation at large will emerge
from this crisis better and stronger,” while noting that, “even in
the darkest of clouds bear a silver lining. These trying times
offer an invaluable learning opportunity, a teachable moment, and
it is the lessons we draw from this period that will shape our path
going forward.”
Earlier in their separate remarks, Lagos State Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu and the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin
Emefiele, called for collaborative efforts in rebuilding Lagos,
emphasizing that the level of destruction could not be handled by
the State Government alone.
Mr. Emefiele then pledged the support of the organized private
sector in the rebuilding of Lagos State which he noted would
include the reconstruction of destroyed police stations by the
private sector coalition and supporting affected private businesses
to survive the devastation.
Other speakers at the event were the representative of Senate
President, and Senator representing Lagos-West Senatorial District,
Sen. Olamilekan Adeola, and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.
The Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund Board led by Mr. Yemi Cardoso was
inaugurated at the event.
Read more https://swordpress.com.ng/2020/11/17/endsars-truth-and-justice-balm-for-a-wounded-society-osinbajo/