Afrobeat star Falz has labelled the call for a peace walk by Governor Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state over the alleged Lekki Massacre a ‘Disgrace’, where he said there has to be justice before any peace.
The Afrobeat star Falz whose real name is Folarin Falana, was one of those called out by the Governor on Tuesday, for the proposed peace walk sometime in December to ‘heal Lagos’ after the deadly incident of October 20th 2020. The rapper in a post on Wednesday 1st December 2021, declined the offer.
Taking to his official social media handle on Wednesday, he said:
“Please tell your governor that there is no “March for peace” without justice,” he said.
He continued:
“He is still trying to deny the massacre that happened. All the lives that were wiped away unjustly.
You set up a panel to investigate the matter. Panel don tell you say people die by the hands of soldiers and policemen wey una send.
Una still no want no want do the right thing.
And you’re here asking for a ‘peace march’
DISGRACEFUL,” he added.
Afrobeat star Falz full statement reads:
“Falz, on his part, described the ‘walk of peace’ as a joke and disrespectful.
He wrote, “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? #EndSARS.
This suggestion of a âwalk for peaceâ 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.”
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?” he said.
The statement by the Afrobeat star Falz, follows the statement issued by the likes of Debo “Mr Marcaroni” and Afrobeat superstar, Seun Kuti who were also called by the Governor to join the said peace walk in Lekki.
Others invited were Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, and Segun Awosanya.
Mr Marcaroni while reacting to Governor’s call for a peace walk, said genuine peacemaking should begin by first implementing the recommendations of the panel as he noted that some victims of the event were still in prison while some were wallowing in grief.
In a series of tweets, he wrote, “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.
“Mr Governor has said it in his speech. That to be a center 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.
“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.
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.
“Finally, I’m not at war with anyone. Not with the Government, police or politicians. All we are asking is that our leaders place value on our lives as citizens and lead us with love, fairness, truth and justice, to enable all Nigerians live a better life in peace and unity.”