Having used the pulpit to shout themselves hoarse on injustices in the land to no avail, the clergy is now welcoming the raging #EndSARS protests, joining in the call for a rethink of policing in the country.
Prominent leader and General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, and the Church have joined the protests, even as many other issues that have dogged the existence of Nigeria have joined the mix.
Police brutality, resource management, restructuring, cost of governance in the Executive and Legislature, and many more others are being scrambled in to ventilate decades’ old frustrations with the polity.
Many are wondering on placards why federal lawmakers, 469 in all, take home about N5 billion monthly and their executive counterparts heading Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) cream off even more in salaries and allowances
Yet others, like a placard in Enugu, wonders why the Zamfara State Government will sell N5 billion worth of gold to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) does not buy oil from Niger Delta states.
In posts on his official Facebook page, Adeboye said, “Our daughters will not be able to prophesy and young men will not see visions if we don’t keep them alive.
“I support the youths in this peaceful protest as they “speak up” to #EndPoliceBrutality”.
RCCG in a statement by Pastor Johnson Odesola, Assistant General Overseer, Administration and Personnel, RCCG, said: “The Redeemed Christian Church of God identifies with Nigerians presently protesting against police brutality and the abuse of power by the very institution established to protect them.
“The Church declares its understanding and appreciation of the concerns and grievances of the youths and the generality of Nigerians and calls for an immediate end to police brutality in the country.
“While noting the constitutional responsibility of the Police to maintain law and order, the Church emphasizes the need for the Police to constantly align their strategies with the needs of the people.
“While noting that many innocent lives have been lost through unnecessary brutality and wrong application of force, the Church calls on the Government to not only restructure the Police but to also re-orientate the officers towards modern ways of policing.
“The Church welcomes the disbandment of the SARS, and notes the establishment of a new outfit called the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) but advises that it should not become a case of old wine in a new bottle.
“The Church reiterates its call on Government to take urgent steps to tackle the rising rate of unemployment, decay in the nation’s educational system and the general harsh economic situation in the country.
“The Church appeals to young Nigerians to comport themselves orderly as they have been online and in major cities across the federation and express their grievances within the confines of what God and the Law of the land allows”.