THE ENDSARS MOVEMENT: Heroes of these present times.
Dear Nigerian Youth,
You remember that line from the national anthem: “the labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain”?? Well, these past two weeks has redefined that line for me. I would like to personally paraphrase it to “the labour of our heroes present can never be in vain”
In two weeks, we saw the rising of a movement that created heroes and heroines out of simple, well-meaning Nigerians. We saw a movement that would forever go down in history has the greatest spark of revolution ever seen in any African country.
The ENDSARS MOVEMENT has been one of the most significant events in Nigeria’s history. To me, it deserves a spot next to every historical event ever to grace the Nigerian soil. From our amalgamation to Independence to the numerous military coups, the ENDSARS MOVEMENT is one of the greatest events to be witnessed by any generation.
The major applaud that the movement has earned is the unity showcased in a country ravaged by tribal wars and ethnic issues.
In honour of this memorable event, I would like to honour the men and women who lent their time, effort, resources and even their lives to ignite the feeling of hope, justice and unity for the broken Nigerian.
In no particular order, I would be recognizing the popular and unpopular faces who have played a part in this compatriot call.
First on the list is:
Ideh Chukwuma Innocent
IG: @onesoulfilms Twitter: @1soulfilms
Innocent is a filmmaker, farmer and many other things. However, on Tuesday 20th of October 2020 (black Tuesday) Innocent became one of the heroes of our time. During the horrible tragedy of the Lekki massacre (when the government sent military personnel to kill its own citizens), Innocent used his car as a mini ambulance to carry injured protesters to the hospital.
Innocent didn’t mind death threats from the soldiers and hoodlums, he took the job head on and showed compassion and bravery never seen before.
Innocent’s brave and patriotic deed went beyond Tuesday night. On Wednesday the 23rd of October, Innocent prevented hoodlums (which had taken advantage of the curfew to loot and destroy businesses and public properties in Lagos) from destroying properties around his area. Innocent calmed the angry thugs by speaking to them and making them understand the downside to their irate destruction of properties. For me, Innocent is one hero I would forever stan!
Eby Akhigbe
IG: @explorewitheby, @ebyakhigbee
Twitter: @EbyAkhigbe
On a normal day, Eby is an experience designer, an avid traveller and tour guide. However, in the abnormal nature of the past 2 weeks, Eby became the founder of the ENDSARS RESPONSE HELPLINE. Despite joining her voice with numerous Nigerians on the streets to put an end to the menace called SARS, Eby took the step forward by creating a helpline to aid and support requests during the protests.
Eby’s great deed created a team of volunteers which took charge of manning the helplines and getting people the required help and assistance especially during the tragedy of the Lekki Massacre. Now, who doesn’t stan a progenitor??
Moe Odele and Adetola Onayemi
IG: @moechievous, @adetolaov
Twitter: @Mochievous, @adetolaov
Moe Adele is a lawyer and the founder of the business consulting firm Scale My Hustle. In the last two weeks, Moe in partner with Adetola Onayemi ( my personal crush…lol) an international trade and investment lawyer, created a mini pro bono law firm with a legal team of over 700 lawyers in the 36 states of Nigeria.
Moe and Adetola’s effort created what is now known as the ENDSARS LEGAL TEAM which helped in releasing over 50 arrested protesters at no cost. I mean for free!!! Talk about power team!! I overstan these guys, Mehn!!!!!!
For me, their combined effort redefined the impression of “Nigerian lawyers”, it broke stereotypes and renewed the belief in the Nigerian legal system. I am here thinking, maybe I should do a second degree in law… What say y’all??
Feyikemi Abudu aka FK
IG: @fkabudu Twitter : @fkabudu
I personally refer to her as everybody’s crush but what do I know?? Feyikemi Abudu is the Business development lead and CEO at Caya house. She also co-runs a podcast series titled “I SAID WHAT I SAID”. However, in the past two weeks, FK became what I would call the operations manager for the ENDSARS MOVEMENT. She helped in getting logistics, food items and even missing people get to their loved ones. She occasionally manned the Helplines and functioned as a resource person in so many ways. I would have referred to her as the fairy godmother but everyone on this list deserves that title.
Fummi Oyatogun
On a regular day, Fummi is travel guide and entrepreneur but in the past two weeks, Fummi was a welfare coordinator for the ENDSARS MOVEMENT. She made arrangements with vendors to get food and drinks to protest grounds nationwide. She also manned the ENDSARS HELPLINES.
Talk about MVPs and don’t mention Fummi, I wee know that something is wrong with you.
Falz, Runtown, Patoranking, Mr Macaroni and Frank Donga
These guys need no introduction, you know them already. They spearheaded the END SARS movement from day one not minding the turn their careers may take, threats from foreign sources or their lives. They demanded change and stirred up hope in the hearts of hopeless Nigerians. Their act of courage got many of their colleagues to come out and fight for the Nigeria we all want. These ones deserve a place in history books. HEROES I FOREVER STAN!!
Rinu Oduala
IG: Savvyrinu Twitter: @SavvyRinu
Savy Rinu was a brand strategist before these 2 weeks came along. In two weeks, she became an activist and a freedom fighter. She took to the streets demanding life and protection from those who were paid to protect us. She slept out in the open on government grounds and stood her ground in the face of adversity. To me, she is an icon!
Aisha Yesufu aka Statue of Liberty
IG: @aishayesufu Twitter: @AishaYesufu
Aisha Yeshufu is an activist and in my own words, “the national troublemaker”. She spearheaded the “bring back our girls” protests in 2012 and in the past two weeks, Aisha has taken to the streets to support the ENDSARS protests.
In the course of these protests, Aisha was beaten and teargassed on several occasions but Aisha never relented in showing her support to the ENDSARS protest. The name “statue of liberty” came when a picture of her in a warrior like posture with her right arm raised and curled in a fist went viral on social media. Seeing that picture, one can conclude that Aisha is the true statue of liberty.
Kokun Foundation
IG: @kokunfoundation
Mr Kokun was(still is) a philanthropist before the spark of the #ENDSARS protest, Mr Kokun had made it his life’s aim to eradicate hunger in the poor and underserved communities in Nigeria. In the past two weeks, Mr Kokun provided food and drinks for protesters on protest grounds. He also rallied a mothers protest which involved over 100 women in a march against police brutality.
The most astounding display of patriotism and love was Mr Kokun’s defying of the government-imposed curfew on the 23rd of October to serve food to stranded individuals in their sheltered locations and injured victims of the Lekki massacre. Despite the insecurity in the state, Mr kokun braced all odds to show humanity. For me, if this isn’t a hero, I don’t know what is.
The Feminist Coalition
IG: feminist.co Twitter:@feminist_co
I personally call them “finance witches”. Truth is, before now, the feminist coalition was a group of women who came together to champion equality for women in the Nigerian society with a core focus in certain sectors. They still are for this cause but in the two weeks of the #ENDSARS protest, they have functioned as accountants, treasurers and auditors. They raised and dispersed funds used to run feeding and welfare for protesters, the release of arrested protesters and medical bills for injured victims of the Lekki massacre. They are like amazon warriors of finance. A group of women effectively running our books!!
The list goes on but we would like to stop here. To everyone who helped sustain this protest whether online or offline, we see you!! You are the true MVP and the true heroes of these present times.
P.S: I am sorry, I couldn’t put everyone’s picture. I have attached their social media handles, so you can stalk them and find those hot pictures yaself. Until we see again, love light and Amala!!
