#EndSARS: Okorocha Calls On Lawmakers, Governors, Ministers To Sacrifice Pay Slash To Restore Faith

Rochas Okorocha, immediate past governor of Imo State and senator representing Imo West senatorial district, has advocated 50 to 70 per cent cut of lawmakers, governors and Ministers income “so that the youths will also have a sense of belonging that the leaders are making a sacrifice.”

Okorocha stated this weekend while addressing newsmen in Abuja following the unabated youths protests nationwide over police brutality, extortion and bad governance in the country.

Speaking on  the issues bedeviling the nation for the past two weeks, the former governor said that the movement for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force and proscription of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) tagged #EndSARS protests was a reaction to years of bad leadership in the country.

Senator Okorocha said the protest which he described as genuine was a wake-up call to the political elite to be accountable and alive to their responsibilities.

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He said:” What started a few days ago as a peaceful protest has escalated into losing many souls and burning properties with people living in fears. This situation is very unfortunate and highly regrettable. I want to sympathise with those that have lost their loved ones due to the protests.

“Today, we have millions of out of school children in the country, it is another time bomb for tomorrow. While the situation is getting under control, government and leaders must rise to their responsibilities to ensure that such future occurrences did not happen again.

The former Imo State governor maintained that those holding elective positions in the country must be prepared to make sacrifices to mitigate the sufferings of the people as he noted that their lifestyles provoke ordinary Nigerians.

“The truth is that our lifestyle provokes youths. We must call on leaders, the legislatures and executives, to change our lifestyle as a mark of sacrifice. It is not necessarily because they are comfortable with what they get. “And even when they get, they have thousands of people that supported them in addition to the extended family system in Africa.

“There are in-laws, friends, classmates, political associates and at the end of the day, the federal house members end up in penury. However, I strongly advocate that the legislatures and executives must make sacrifices from their salaries and allowances as a way of ameliorating the situation the youths are facing.”