Don't buy narrative of blaming you for looting

Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar Christian Centre has advised Nigerian youths to resist any attempt to pin on them the looting that followed the hijack of the EndSARS protests by hoodlums.

He said that while the looting and destruction of properties were “sad”, the youths should not buy the narrative that they were to blame.

Adeyemi noted that beside the fight against extrajudicial killings and harassment by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the youths also fought against hoodlums.

Adeyemi said, “Dear young citizen. It’s time for everyone to reflect. The massive destruction of properties in Lagos and other cities is so sad. Some want to blame you, but you must not buy that narrative. They know those that introduced violence. #ENDSARS

“Those that looted and destroyed property are also not part of you. They are products of a system that does not value its youths and has left them with little or no hope. They are part of the reason you raised your voice against injustice and want a new Nigeria.

“What you did in less than a week was a phenomenon. Let me share how I see it. You attracted a mass following across all sectors within a short time because your cause is noble. No sane person should fault your call for justice.

“Leadership experts believed for a long time that the best way to motivate people to move is to give them a vision of the ideal future. But it has not always worked. People prefer the status quo to change.”

Adeyemi noted, “In recent times, they have come to realise that it sometimes works better to tell the story of people’s pain: their livable experiences. You got this right. You generated impetus and galvanised people to act focusing on police brutality.

“You overcame things that have divided our country and frustrated its development including ethnicity and religion, and put up a united front. You practically shared love instead of our culture of prejudice. That was a breakthrough.”