The lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in Oyo State at the House of Representatives, Mr Shina Peller, tells LEKE BAIYEWU about his efforts to get the #EndSARS protesters out of the streets, using celebrities in the entertainment sector
You appeared in all-black attire to the House. What inspired your dressing this way?
I decided to wear all-black and I am going to do that for the next three days purposely to mourn the victims of Black Tuesday; the event that happened at the Lekki Tollgate where we lost Nigerians who were patriots and had stood so firm to fight in a constitutional way – through protests – to show their displeasure with police brutality and inhuman behaviour by personnel of the Nigeria Police Force. These were people protesting peacefully and they (soldiers) fired at them. I felt it was high time I sympathised with them and showed a sort of respect, especially for the departed. I felt very bad. I was at the protest ground on the previous day and I spoke to a few of them. To realise that some of the people I spoke to were assaulted and shot at the same place that I visited, is something that breaks me down so deeply. Every time I remember all that happened, the process, talking to them and everything, it breaks me down.
You are a major stakeholder in the entertainment and hospitality sectors and many of the people who led the protests are entertainers. How have you used your influence to manage the crisis, especially in the National Assembly?
As you know, there are rules in the National Assembly and what we do as federal legislators include moving motions and sponsoring bills. The issue on the ground is of urgent public importance. In the House, I have taken steps. There was a motion I referred to when I was talking to people at the protest ground. It was a joint motion that was meant to be moved by a few members and me, especially the Chairman of the Young Parliamentarians’ Forum, Hon. Kabir Tukura. We took the right step for that to be done. But like I said, the House has its rules and the Speaker has the right to call whoever he chooses to allow to speak. The issue is a pressing issue and everybody will always feel that they have an opinion. But there are rules and we have a presiding officer who chooses to call on whoever he wishes, to contribute to that particular matter.
