The party also demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari should publicly apologise to those who participated in the protests, seeking justice from police brutality and bad governance last year.
The African Action Congress (AAC) party has called for the resignation of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed following some statements he made about the #EndSARS memorial anniversary on Wednesday.
The party also demanded that President Muhammadu Buhari should publicly apologise to those who participated in the protests, seeking justice from police brutality and bad governance last year.
According to the AAC, the National Economic Council under the leadership of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo should compensate victims of police brutality as recommended by the state panels inaugurated to investigate those allegations.
AAC disclosed these in a press statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Femi Adeyeye, which was made available to SaharaReporters on Wednesday.
The statement was in reaction to the Minister of Information’s earlier statements that there were no killings at Lekki Toll Gate last year.
Nigerian youths had gathered there to protest.
The statement said, “The attention of our party, the African Action Congress (AAC) has been drawn to a statement credited to the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed which was issued in Abuja today 20/10/2021, which marks the anniversary of the grossly unfortunate Lekki shooting that claimed lives of over 50 Nigerians, left many young Nigerians permanently injured and threw many homes into a grieving mood for life.
"Rather than share consolations and seek restitution, after accepting the ignominious role it played in quelling the most organized civil disobedience in recent history, as it is expected of a government in the 21st century, the regime has shown maximum recalcitrance; such that reeks of corruption and a megalomaniac posture.
“Reading through the gaffe Lai issued as a statement, no one would argue that the sole intention of the Minister was to protect by all means necessary the face of the regime from local and international shame because it has lost out on the debate. He failed woefully.
“The description of the massacre as 'phantom' by the infamous Minister of 'misinformation' is the highest form of insensitivity and irresponsibility any government official could show at a time like this. Not even on a day when the largest demography- the youths, are remembering their loved ones who were slain for standing up for their fundamental human rights; in particular, their right to life.
“The AAC as a revolutionary party would do all that is possible not to allow history to be distorted right before our eyes."
As its demands, the party said, “We ask that the Minister withdraws his gaffe and start preparing his resignation letter, as the party would not hesitate to mobilize Nigerians far and wide to force such. Nigerians have had enough of the insults from Alhaji Lai Mohammed and his goons.
“That the National Economic Council chaired by the Vice President start without any further delay, the compensation to victims of SARS brutality as recommended by the State panels.
“Immediate arrest and open prosecution of erring SARS officers including one CSP James Nwafor who has been on the run since the protests started.
“That the Lekki Massacre Panel report should be concluded and made public in the shortest possible time by the Lagos Restitution Panel.
“That all EndSARS and Post-EndSARS protesters (over 300 of them) including political prisoners be released immediately and unconditionally. This executive rascality must not be allowed to continue in a democracy.
“An apology to be made by President Muhammadu Buhari to all Nigerians who participated in #EndSARS for the role his regime played in disrespecting the rights to associate and express opinions freely; without intimidation and violent repression, as seen one year ago.
“We would like to conclude with the position which we have always maintained, that until the Buhari regime and the exploitative system that produce and continue to breathe oxygen into all forms of brutalities, including economic brutality, are blotted out by the people, there would be no meaningful conclusion to our sufferings.”