#EndSars!
Who ordered the killings of #ENDSARS protesters at Lekki on this day in 2020? Two years later, the Nigerian government are yet to provide an answer but if there’s one thing we know they learned from that time, it is that the #Sorosoke generation cannot be silenced.
We have some people to thank for that, people who stuck their necks out when it mattered the most and added their voices to the voices of the masses.
Today, the Tribe celebrates ten of them for setting status aside to be at the forefront of the #ENDSARS Movement:
1. Mr Macaroni
Debo Adedayo a.k.a Mr Macaroni tops this list for more reasons than one. His EndSARS experience in Alausa went from pushing the movement on his platforms, joining his fellow Nigerians in the protest, giving out cash to help feed other protesters (a behaviour regarded as treason) to getting arrested after the end protest ended.
He was molested and harassed in the usual NPF barbaric style, but still stands strong two years later, lending his voice to the issues in the country.
2. Falz The Bad Guy
In case you don’t already know, Folarin Falana (Falz The Bhad Guy) is the son of Nigerian activist and SAN, Femi Falana. So yeah, the apple does not fall far from the tree.
He too, like Mr Macaroni, used his platform to promote the movement. He marched the streets of Lagos with his fellow protesters and even roasted Gov. Wike who was clowning at the time with the ban he placed on the protest in Rivers State.
3. DJ Switch
DJ Switch is one of the reasons why the the Lekki shooting of 2020 was not simply swept under the rug. She was at the protest ground when the shooting started and streamed everything on IG live which is now the basis of investigation for every intervening body.
Although the Nigerian government claims that they are not a threat to DJ Switch’s life, she is not about to take chances.
4. Rinu Oduala
Rinu is a social media personality who used her platforms to ginger people to join the #ENDSARS movement. She also marched for the protest in person.
After the protest, a Lagos judicial panel was set up and she was made a youth rep. She, however, withdrew from the role 2 months later when the panel ‘gave her a slap on the face’ by granting the reopening of the Lekki toll gate.
Like many other protesters, her bank account was later frozen.
5. Runtown
Runtown could actually be named the gunpowder for this movement because when Naira Marley fell everyone’s hands and didn’t show up for the protest he instigated, it was Runtown and co who took up the mantle.
Runtown was part of the first people to start the protest at Lekki.
6. Oxlade and Ojahbee
Holding the forte at Surulere were Oxlade (Kulosa), and his manager, Ojahbee–who would be later accused of possessing illegal weapons on the protest ground.
The police took them away in vans and when Ojahbee’s mom came to ask for her son, a police officer slapped her! He was eventually released but had to be admitted to the hospital because of how bad he was beaten up.
7. Aisha-Yesufu
Here is another voice that came out loud and clears during the #EndSARS- Aisha Yesufu. She is the co-founder of Bring Back Our Girls, Chibok (another dead-end case). When the police came to intimidate people with tear gas, Aisha stood her ground and gingered more people to be fearless.
She, Davido and Mr Macaroni have now been nominated for the awards of social justice.
8. Temilola Balogun
Temilola is a medical doctor who mobilized other healthcare workers to provide medical assistance to the protesters.
She was at one point arrested by the police who she says threatened to maim her and throw her body into the canal.
9. Small Doctor
Small doctor came through for the people of Agege by leading them all the way from Agege to the statehouse in Alausa when Naira Marley stood them up.
It was a massive turnout overall.
10. Davido
Mr Assurance too did not sleep on the movement at all. He took base in Abuja but got tear-gassed alongside the other protesters that marched to the Force Headquarters, Louise Edet.
NOTE: These are just but a few of the people who came out for us. We are grateful for them and hope that we all live to see a better Nigeria.
Get your PVC. Vote wisely.
#Unsolicited is a segment for reviews and opinion pieces. This edition highlights ten celebrities who were at the forefront of the #EndSARS movement.
