EndSARS: Falz, Mr Marcaroni, Seun Kuti blast Sanwo-Olu, reject invite to ‘Peace Walk’

*accuse gov of sweeping matter under carpet

Benjamin Omoike

Sequel to the invitation by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to a peace walk for ‘the healing of Lagos’, musician Folarin Falana (Falz), comedian Debo Adebayo (Mr Marcaroni) and Seun Anikulapo-Kuti, son of Afro-beat legend, Fela, have not only rejected the offer, but have equally accused the Lagos helmsman of sweeping the true account of what occurred in October 2020 under the carpet.

The trio, in their separate reactions, outrightly rejected the invitation.

Mr Marcaroni said genuine peacemaking should begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel.

Falz, on his part, described the ‘walk of peace’ as a joke and a very disrespectful one at that.

But Segun Awosanya, popularly known as Segalink, said Sanwo-Olu has shown leadership with his mature response to the current controversy.

It would be recalled that Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, had invited some known faces of the EndSARS protest and alleged shooting in the state, which was held in October 2020, to a peace walk slated for December this year.

The Governor, in his speech, specifically invited Folarin Falana (Falz), Debo Adebayo (Mr. Marcaroni), Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti, Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu and Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the “historic march for our dear Lagos”.

Reacting, Mr. Macaroni said: “I humbly decline the invitation of Mr Governor. The Government themselves set up a panel. The panel has made recommendations.

“I believe that genuine peacemaking will begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel. Then we can begin to trust the government.

“Mr Governor has said it in his speech that to be a Centre of Excellence, we have to be a Center of Truth. Before there can be healing, the government has to be sincere. There must be acceptance of wrongdoings and willingness to correct them.

“The last walk wey I do, na so dem bundle me, strip me naked, brutalize and dehumanize me. I no carry gun, I no carry weapon. As dem dey beat me, dem dey ask why I dey disturb Mr Governor. Now dem say make I come do walk. For another round of beating?

“Abeg o. If I wan lose weight, I go go gym. Same peaceful Walk wey Nigerian Youths do wey dem kill them? Some are still in prison. Some have gone into hiding. Their lives no longer theirs all because we decided to walk against police brutality.”

Falz said: “This suggestion of a ‘walk of peace’ sounds like a joke and a very disrespectful one at that. People were murdered in cold blood and absolutely no iota of justice has been served more than a year after. How can there be peace without justice?

“In this same speech, you said ‘To be a smart city, we first must be a just one. Remember the young Nigerians that had their lives snatched away by weapons wielded by our own Armed Forces? You want to sweep that under the carpet? Is that how to establish a just city? #ENDSARS

“Young Nigerians, till today, are still being constantly harassed and extorted by police officers! You were awfully quiet about that. Or are you not aware? #ENDSARS.”

On his part, Seun Anikulapo-Kuti, son of Afro-beat legend, Fela, rejected the invite by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to a peace walk for “the healing of Lagos” in December.

The activist and singer insisted that the governor must ensure justice is served for victims of police brutality before peace walk.

“I wants peace after justice,” he said on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme.

“I don’t need to walk next to the governor before there is peace in Lagos; there has been peace in Lagos before many years and nobody have to walk anywhere for it.

“If there is justice, then we can discuss peace. In fact, there will be no need to walk for peace because justice itself is the walk of peace. The governor should walk the walk he is talking about by giving us justice.”

However, Segalink, in his reaction, said: “Mr Governor @jidesanwoolu has shown leadership with this matured response and we hope the WhitePaper will mirror his sentiment. We all want closure, justice and healing for our society. The experience of 20th October 2020 must never be repeated. #EndImpunity.