EndSARS: CUPP Demands Buhari’s Resignation

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has lent its voice to the ongoing nationwide protests by Nigerians demanding the ending of the Federal Special Anti-robbery Squad (FSARS).

CUPP urged Nigerians to demand the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari and the service chiefs.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, CUPP said the call was based on what it viewed as Buhari “repeatedly failing to protect lives and property, inability to checkmate SARS excesses for years including bloody activities of bandits.”

CUPP also accused the president and the service chiefs for allowing “insurgents and outlaws having field days killings, raping and murdering Nigerians and the regime’s institutionalisation of corruption, poverty  and incompetency.”

Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Sunday, ordered the disbandment of SARS following widespread protests.

It followed allegations of extra-judicial killings, extortion and rights abuses by the squad.

According to IGP Adamu, the dissolution of SARS is with immediate effect across all the 36 State Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ugochinyere said the disbandment of SARS is not enough for safety of Nigerians from “security forces brutality and Incompetent/corrupt administration.”

He charged the people to continue protesting until the government conceded to total police reform and immediate end to alleged brutality by security forces.

The CUPP spokesman commended the resilience of Nigerians, who had been trooping into major cities across the country to protest the alleged brutality of men of the disbanded FSARS of the Nigeria Police Force.

Below is the full statement of CUPP

SARS disbandment not enough for safety of Nigerians from Security forces brutality and Incompetent/corrupt administration-CUPP

… Opposition Coalition (CUPP) wants Nigerians/Protesters to demand that President Buhari and his Service Chiefs should resign for repeatedly failing to protect lives and properties, inability to checkmate SARS excesses for years including bloody activities of bandits, insurgents and outlaws having field days killings, raping and murdering Nigerians and the regime’s institutionalisation of corruption, poverty  and incompetency.

Let the People’s Protest Continue till govt concedes to total Police Reform and immediate end to Brutality by Security forces and Incompetent/corrupt govt officials.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) salutes the resilience of the numerous Nigerians, cutting across gender, social status, political parties and professions, who have been trooping into major cities across the country to protest the brutality of men of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force.

The disbandment of the dreaded squad by police authorities on Sunday is the first victory recorded by the protesters who have succeeded in making it loud and clear to all who care to listen that true power rests with the people and not the oppressors.

The CUPP is however of the opinion that the disbandment of SARS is not enough proof of safety for Nigerians who are daily falling victims of kidnappers, armed robbers, bandits,insurgents across the country and anti people policies  by an incompetent regime that destroyed the economy, failed to protect lives/properties and divided the country along ethnic and religious lines.

It is clear with the various security challenges in all parts of the country, that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has failed woefully in its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and properties of citizens as enshrined in Section 14 of the nation’s Constitution.

Killings by operatives of the disbanded SARS did not start now but the government failed to address the issue until now when the people of Nigeria took their destinies in their hands.

Those killer SARS men are still walking the streets free and they ae going to be redeployed to other units of the police force when they may likely continue their nefarious activities and even influence others to join them. They need to be arrested and prosecuted while their victims get justice and compensation.

The CUPP calls for the total cleansing of the system that created SARS, or else, something worse than the squad will be introduced.

For students of history, this is of course not the first time SARS was dissolved, suspended, disbanded or renamed. The dreaded squad appears to have nine lives, it keeps coming back.

We therefore call on well-meaning Nigerians not to be satisfied with tokenism in the name of disbanding SARS.

Let those who failed to secure the lives and properties of our people despite huge budgets being allocated to security every year be made to account for their sin.

Till date, bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and armed herdsmen among others are still wasting lives of innocent Nigerians with the government folding its hands and doing nothing.

For failing to protect lives and properties, President Buhari who is the Commander-in-Chief, his service chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police have failed Nigerians and they must therefore step aside to pave way for genuine Police reform and fresh beginning.Those who were sleeping while some officers of SARS under their control killed innocent citizens cannot reform a system that went rogue under their own eyes .

As we call for end to SARS and immediate and total reformation of the Police Force, there must be call for end to incompetent leaders, end to corruption, end to parliamentary alleluia boys. We must end all these now or they will end the nation soon.

For patriots who have woken up the resilience spirit and true power of the leaders of tomorrow, the CUPP notes that you have activated the struggle towards taking back your country.You are true Patriots

We urge that you do not go back to sleep until you have achieved a sustainable result that will wake up the dreams of our nation’s founding fathers and put the country back on the path towards being a country where respect for human rights, justice, equity and competence is celebrated, promoted and defended. Total and Immediate reform of the Police Force and end to Brutality by Security forces are not negotiable.

We say to you that the power to fix your tomorrow is in your hands.

Nobody can do it. Even organisations like the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress that once defended the interest of the masses have now sold the struggle and now dine and wine with the enemy. At a time they kept silent while fuel and electricity Tarriffs were increased arrogantly and citizens killed by the govt elected to protect them, great young men and women have formed a powerful movement greater than the sleeping labour to salvage our nation. Know today that you all have started something that will change the cause of history. Remember we are on our own now, we have power to forge our destiny going forward from here. If we don’t demand an end to the brutality of the Security forces and Brutality being visited on our lives, economy, unity etc by a few outlaws and political Alleluia men, nobody can do it. The SARS in all aspect of our nation’s life must end now.

Like we do say here, If you are sleeping wake up; if you are eating, stop; if you are sitting on the fence, come down; if you are laughing, stop and join our brothers and sisters to end the political and security SARS-like character behind corruption, looting, killings of innocent citizens, bandits and murderous elements  across the country, promoters of ethnic hate, division, electoral bandits and poverty. Total End to Brutality by Security forces,  Police Reform and end to corrupt and Incompetent leadership is not negotiable.

Let the peoples protest continue till the government concedes to total police reform and immediate end to police brutality by security forces and incompetent/corrupt government officials.

The time to act is now!

Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere
Opposition Coalition CUPP Spokesperson and APP National Chairman