Celebrity activists: Present at #EndSARS, missing in #EndBadGovernance
On August 1, 2024, angry, frustrated Nigerians, both young and old, swarmed the streets to protest worsening economic conditions, government corruption, inept leadership, and other issues that have left many reeling.
With organisers of the street demonstration scheduling 10 days of protests and presenting 19 demands, the peaceful protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, gained traction over time and turned violent in northern states that include Yobe, Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Niger, and Jigawa.
However, something intrinsic was noticeably missing in this nationwide protest that shook the nation—the faces of prominent Nigerian activists, who championed and participated in the 2020 #EndSARS protest during the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Precisely in October 2020, thousands of young Nigerians took to the streets in about 30 states to protest against police brutality after the video of a man being allegedly killed by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known as SARS, went viral.
SARS was a unit of the police force allegedly responsible for many atrocities, including harassment and killings, among others.
The video sparked what would later be known as the #EndSARS movement and the ensuing protest gained global support to became the biggest movement for change championed by young people in the country’s history.
The demonstration lasted for two weeks, prompting the Federal Government to disband SARS and set up judicial panels of inquiry to investigate the widespread allegations of abuse by officers.
Four years later, many anticipated the active involvement of prominent Nigerians in the #EndBadGovernance protest, and continue to wonder why the silence from most of them.
Prominent #EndSARS proponents:
Aisha Yesufu
A political activist and leading figure in the 2020 #EndSARS protest in Abuja, Aisha Yesufu was among those tear-gassed but remained defiant.
A picture of the co-founder, ‘Bring Back Our Girls Movement’, standing resolute with one hand raised, later became one of the symbols of the #EndSARS movement.
Before the #EndBadGovernance protest, Aisha had been consistently criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Though physically absent in this latest protest, she made comments in support of it on her X handle.
One of her comments on the platform reads, “Hunger is a unifier! Nobody is protesting on behalf of anybody. The people have taken it personally and are ready to claim their power. Tinubu is killing the citizens he threw into suffering and hunger for coming out to cry about the suffering and hunger. The Nigerian police are the progenitors of violence at protests. They are either directly inflicting it or supervising others to inflict it.”
Rinu Oduala
This outspoken Nigerian was among thousands of youths who protested police brutality in 2020 but did not join in the 2024 demonstration.
The media strategist set up a camp outside the Lagos governor’s office on October 7, calling for SARS to be disbanded.
Using social media as a tool, she rallied support and organised blankets for people who kept vigil outside the Lagos State Government office for 72 hours before a police crackdown.
Her #EndSARS activism was so profound that her Twitter account, with over 172,000 followers, got the blue verified badge.
Oduala later became part of a judicial panel set up in Lagos to investigate cases of police abuse.
Runtown
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer, Douglas Jack Agu, popularly known as Runtown, did not join in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
In 2020, he actively participated in the #EndSARS demonstration in Lagos and showed his support for the movement.
Runtown also mobilised Nigerians via his social media platforms for the protest.
However, he was silent on the #EndBadGovernance protest. His social media handles were also devoid of comments relating to it.
Falz
Lawyer, rapper, and activist, Folarin Falana, known as Falz, was also missing among the #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The singer was actively involved in previous protests, including the 2020 #EndSARS protest. He stood with other #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, Ikeja, and Surulere.
In an Instagram live chat before the #EndSARS protest started, Falz had said, “No backing down. We move. The police are already there, waiting for us, but we are not here to cause trouble. It is a peaceful protest. Coming through.
“Our message is clear. Today was very peaceful & the authorities know what to do in order to keep the peace.”
Despite his name being etched in Nigeria’s history due to activism, the son of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana did not participate in this recent protest and only posted comments on his X account on August 2.
He wrote, “Genuinely, I don’t know why it’s so difficult to be humane. They say to make you leave am, you no gree. Say na your birthright. You can’t now turn a deaf ear.
“You tried to make it look like the protests were ‘politically motivated’. Shebi una don see now? How long do you think you can keep on pushing the people back before it blows up in your face?”
Nigerian disc jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, better known as DJ Switch, supported the #EndBadGovernance protest but did not participate.
A leading figure in the #EndSARS movement, who coordinated the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, described the #EndBadGovernance protest as an opportunity to save Nigeria.
She also wrote on her X handle, “The only thing that can stop HUNGER is FOOD! Not guns, teargas, or threats….”
Burna Boy
Afro-fusion star Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known as Burna Boy, did not directly participate in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Like others, he supported the movement through social media posts and statements.
Recall that the singer was initially reluctant to identify with the #EndSARS protest in 2020 but later supported it following widespread condemnation by fans.
Similarly, Nigerian comedian, actor, and activist Debo Adebayo, known by his stage name, Mr Macaroni, was not seen anywhere near protest locations in the country.
Though he supported the demonstration through his X account, he did not participate in it.
Condemning the attack on protesters by the police on August 1, Adebayo wrote, “Never ceases to amaze me that you would rarely find the police preventing citizens from being harmed or find them at locations where properties are being destroyed or looted. But you will find them in their battalion; arresting, beating, and throwing tear gas at those walking peacefully on the streets, singing and carrying placards. So whatever happened to the primary responsibility of protecting lives and properties?”
Back in 2020, specifically on Thursday, October 8, he led comedians and other celebrities in an all-night #EndSARS protest at the Lagos State Government House in Alausa.
Tiwa Savage
During the #EndSARS protest, sensational singer and songwriter Tiwa Savage, using her social media platform, ensured the agitation got global attention.
In an Instagram live session while speaking about the protest, she said, “Nigeria is bad.”
However, during this latest protest, Tiwa neither physically participated nor supported the protest with comments.
Wizkid
One of Nigeria’s Afropop icons, Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid, was also notably absent during the #EndBadGovernance protest and remained silent about it.
Saturday PUNCH reported that the Afrobeat star and many other Nigerians led a protest in support of the #EndSARS protest at the Nigeria High Commission, Thai Square, London, on Sunday, October 11, 2020.
In an interview with American media executive Kojo Ebro, Wizkid was quoted as saying: “It’s just disheartening that in 2020 we are still having this conversation. What we want is protection from the police. We want the police to protect the people. We have more pressing issues affecting Nigeria. There’s no 24-hour electricity as I speak to you; people use generators, people cannot afford generators. They got to sleep in darkness. There are no 24 hours of electricity, there are bad roads, and the government is quiet. It just hurts!”
Davido
Popular Afrobeat singer, David Adeleke, aka Davido, played an active role in the #EndSARS demonstrations across the country.
He not only took part in a protest in Abuja but also called on the then Inspector General of Police, Muhammadu Adamu, to conduct psychological re-evaluation on police officers.
He was tear-gassed along with peaceful protesters while marching toward the Force Headquarters in Louis Edet House.
However, despite his reverberating voice at the previous nationwide demonstration, checks by Saturday PUNCH showed that Davido did not participate in the recent protest.
Toke Makinwa
Renowned on-air personality, Toke Makinwa was also among the leading media and entertainment personalities that led the #EndSARS protest.
She spoke truth to power and condemned the arrest of comedian and actor, Mr Macaroni.
Notwithstanding her contribution in 2020, Makinwa did not associate with the latest #EndBadGovernance protest.
Genevieve Nnaji
Veteran actress, Genevieve Nnaji, made her voice count during the #EndSARS protest as one of the entertainers that took the front row.
She is remembered for condemning the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for barring residents from engaging in the protest.
She also penned an open letter to Buhari, urging him to listen to the cries of Nigerians against extrajudicial killings by SARS.
The Nollywood star, who later deleted most of her Instagram posts in 2022, is one of the entertainment figures who did not participate in the recent protest.
Sam Adeyemi
Founder and Senior Pastor of Daystar Christian Centre, Sam Adeyemi, was among the few clerics who publicly supported the #EndSARS protest.
He encouraged Nigerians to use protests as an avenue to bring developmental change to the country.
Adeyemi said the demonstration was legitimate and meant to make the government at the time reason with their demands.
He did not identify with the recent protest and now resides outside the country after he revealed relocating to the United States after having disturbing dreams post-COVID-19 and #EndSARS.
Oby Ezekwesili
Former Minister of Education Obiageli Ezekwesili was a major force behind the #EndSARS protests.
She told the Buhari administration that the gathering of the youth at the Lekki Toll Gate was due to the failure of his government to address their needs.
She also condemned the shootings that happened on October 20, 2020.
Ezekwesili did not also get involved in this recent demonstration but, in a message on X, called on the federal government to learn from the #EndSARS protest.
Feyikemi ‘FK’ Abudu
Social media influencer and entrepreneur Feyikemi Abudu, popularly known as FK Abudu, was one of the women who backed #EndSARS.
She is notably remembered for collating the names of protesters detained by security agents and providing legal services to get them freed.
As Nigerians vent their anger this time, FK Abudu’s voice was silent.
