Nigerian celebrities, Adebola Adebayo, also known as Mr Macaroni and Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz have declined the invitation of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s to participate in a peace walk in the state.
Recently, the governor invited individuals like Falz, Mr Macaroni, Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu , Commander of Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the peace walk.
While confirming the invitation of the celebrities at a media briefing in Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said the historic march, was organized by the state government in an effort to heal the state after the shooting of #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020.
However, in a statement tweeted on his Twitter handle shortly after the governor’s announcement, Mr Macaroni challenged the Lagos State government to take full responsibility for the heinous events that took place in October last year.
Mr Macaroni requested that the government implement the recommendations of the state judicial panel of inquiry in order to gain the trust of its people back.
He tweeted: “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 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.”
In the same vein, Falz described the peace walk as a big joke.
He 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.”
