A wave of reactions has surged following the actions of Adewale Egbedun, the Speaker of Osun State’s House of Assembly, who intervened to stop policemen from extorting money from passengers in the state. The incident, captured in a viral video, portrays police officers concealing their identities as they allegedly collect money from young individuals.
In the video, the speaker can be seen retrieving the money from the officers and encouraging the youths to document the encounter. Although the illicit practice of police extortion is far from unfamiliar, numerous netizens pointed out the significance of the speaker’s actions while expressing their opinions.
User nadrassy commented: “While many demand accountability from the police, here is a leader taking action. It’s disheartening to see some criticizing him, referencing unrelated matters. Rather than dwelling on his past, let’s commend him for shielding the youth against those tasked with safeguarding them. He could have walked away, but he didn’t.”
User deevasesecret added: “Extortion is practically a part of the Nigerian police job description.”
officialmrchalenze lamented: “The Nigerian police persist in their unethical and corrupt practices.”
nafeeesattheoriginal opined: “This situation is certainly no laughing matter. Mr. Speaker shouldn’t feign ignorance regarding police exploitation on Osun state roads. It’s as if he was dispatched from Lagos to become the speaker in Osun state.”
agbomejitunde expressed: “Commendable actions, Mr. Speaker. However, more needs to be done, including addressing these concerns with the Governor.”
instawitefe questioned: “Should we really fault them? These same leaders neglect their salary obligations. While not excusing their wrongdoing, let’s address the underlying causes.”
bestdoggie9 quipped: “Mr. Speaker, while you shout ‘Video them,’ remember that you’re not exempt from scrutiny and have your own financial matters to contend with.”
tonychizophat suggested: “Speaker, record the poor road conditions and share them with the governor.”
merit42 mused: “If the government provided adequate compensation, such misconduct might diminish. Not to justify their actions, but remember these were the very people we tried to support during the EndSARS movement. How did they respond? They turned against the peaceful youth advocating for their rights. This is only the beginning; they will learn the hard way, confronting the consequences of their actions. Continuously allowing themselves to be manipulated by corrupt politicians – the repercussions are evident.”
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