#EndSARS May Be Catalyst For Political Reform – Kukah

• If the youth can hold their dream and vision, Goliath might just begin to count his days

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, says #EndSARS protest has awaken the consciousness of the governed, especially the youth, in the country and may spur a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political arrangement.

In what has now become known as the iconic #EndSARS, Nigerians in their thousands troop to the streets to protest against police brutality and demand good governance.

Alluding to the biblical story of David and Goliath, He said if the youth could remain true to their creeds and hold steadfast their vision, their place in management of the country’s affairs will be guaranteed.

Speaking during an interview with The PUNCH, Kakuh noted that EndSARS protest might become a potent tool for the youth to take over from old and corrupt politicians ahead of the 2023 general election.

“#EndSARS might be the ultimate sanitiser that could flush out too many of the bad guys that have poisoned the atmosphere,” he said.

“If the youth can hold their dream and vision, Goliath might just begin to count his days as David steps up. If the youth can hold their dream, they will play a critical role in determining the future of our politics.

“After all, the men of yesterday and today have perfected the stealing of elections by rejecting science and technology. It is what the youth have in plenty, and with it criminality can be sabotaged and a more transparent system installed.”

The bishop said Nigeria have allowed illiterate, ill-prepared minds to be in power, and this has affected governance in the country.

“Yes, we parade some of the most illiterate and ill-prepared people in politics. Too many people have crept into politics with the mentality of their earlier lives,” he said.

“So, we have contractors, drug dealers and people with fake certificates all over the place.

“Listen to the charges when they take one another to court. Too many people have little knowledge of the complexities of the country; they have limited understanding of geopolitics and global economics and politics.

“This is why their only concern is to steal resources, enrich themselves and so on. We are well below par in part because often, political appointments are based on feudal and partisan religious and ethnic considerations.

“How many offices today are occupied by people who are really qualified? How many first-class young men and women are out there and cannot find a job now? These are the real issues that #EndSARS throws up.”

He said the situation, before 2023, will throw up a leader, once there is a system that rejects or does not favour certain individuals or situations.

He said Nigeria’s atmosphere rewards impunity and criminality and that is why the system is skewed probity.

He added that corruption is not politics, rather development economics, and that it is technology that fights corruption, not moral exhortation.