What exactly did he say wrong? - 'Seun Oremade

'Seun Oremade, a facebook user has posted on his time line the transcribed script of  a member representing Surulere Constituency in Lagos State House of Assembly, Desmond Elliot,  the speech he made during plenary as he reeled out the dangers of social media and urged celebrities and media influencers to shield their swords. Desmond in the process of making his point called Nigerian Youths “CHILDREN”, Nigerians condemned his statement, emphasizing that social media played a major role in his becoming an Honourable member in 2015. See the video below:

His apologies: 

“I have read your honest feedback& suggestions& I sincerely apologize for addressing the youth as “Children.

“I did not mean to be insensitive with this, it was borne out of the magnitude of destruction& looting of businesses I witnessed when I went on a tour of my constituency

“I saw women crying and my constituent members distraught as a result of the damages inflicted on their source of livelihood. I was moved by this while giving my submission on the floor of the House.

“I allowed my emotions get the better of me and for this I apologize to everyone my earlier statements may have hurt.

 “Please, understand that even the best of us make mistakes. This is why, moving forward, I ask that we all try to engage constructively on the issues that affect all of us. I promise to do the same.

“The pain that I feel for my constituents, the calls for assistance that I continue to get, and the need to mitigate against further destruction and violence will continue to drive my engagements and my work.

“I thank you all for expressing your views, and in the future, I promise to be more conscious and aware. Together, we will build a better Nigeria.” 

.Although, the lawmaker as since apologized to Nigerians for calling the Youths ‘children’, 'Seun, according to his Facebook post is yet to actually see anything wrong about Desmond's speech. "I have watched Desmond Elliot's HOA video about thrice. What exactly did he say wrong? His opinion doesn't have to be be popular, you know', he wrote. Below is the transcript of the submission of Desmond Elliot.  Transcription by 'Seun Oremade:

 

Desmond Elliot's speech

Good afternoon Honourable colleagues, Mr Speaker, the events of the last few weeks which commenced on the 7th of October, 2020 and reached its climax on the 20th of October, 2020 have bombarded me with a barrage of feelings. That of Joy, Sadness, Sorrow, Pain, Tears.

Apologies for coming late sir. I accompanied the Rt Hon Speaker, House of Reps to survey areas in Surulere that were bastardized, destroyed by people they call hooligans but because they live amongst us, I will call them our brothers.

Mr Speaker, I saw people crying. I saw people crying, people fainting, today. Three days after the destruction. Mothers who have worked hard, asking the speaker "how are we going to go again? How do we grow again? I ask us, where have we failed?

I commiserate with the lives of the people who have died this period. I sympathize with those who have lost businesses. I sympathize with Lagos state, at the deliberate attempt to cripple this state and to cripple our spirit. But as a people, we will not let that happen.

Mr Speaker, we need to address certain things. The Nigerian youth, the Social media, the Social influencers. All of these are making the narratives that we are seeing today. Except we are joking with ourselves.

Social media, yes, though good has its negative impact. Let me first thank you for condemning the wanton killings and carnage that happened at Lekki.

When I went through the comments, I could not believe it,  Mr Speaker. The Curses. The abuses from Children. And I ask myself, is this Nigeria? What is going on? Children cursing? People having the effrontery to enter an Oba's palace, hold the staff of office? Culture is gone.

Mr Speaker, in the next 5 years there would be no Nigeria, if we don't start now. The youth is not only those who do the peaceful protests, those who have looted, who have destroyed lives, they are youths as well.

Mr Speaker, pregnant women went into malls, picked things and went away. When shall we change these narratives?

I put it to all the celebrities out there, all the motivational speakers, this is the only country we have. The wealthy will go. When anything happens, what is our common saying? We die here.

Please celebrities, please social media influencers, stop the hatred already. You have a means constitutionally to change Government, it is called your PVC. Go to the elections. If you are tired, come and enter Government.

People are dying. The narrative must change. Government, Mr Speaker, this is my prayer, from the National assembly, we must decentralize the federal government. Regions must start to operate. It is obvious states are on their own. Regions should start operating. The narrative should start here.

I so submit, sir.

However, Bemigho Reno Omokri,  an author and lawyer via his Instagram handle has also published a post addressing Desmond as "acting for his godfathers to see his loyalty". See the screen shot of the post below: