‘Why we are suspending activities for MEGAwards 2020’ – Organisers
Organisers of the Music and Entertainment Gospel Awards (MEGA), have announced the suspension of planning and execution of the award ceremony earlier slated for November 15, 2020.
A statement by the National Coordinator of MEGAwards, Femi Akintunde-Johnson, said the decision to suspend the ceremony was taken in response to the sombre mood of the nation.
In the past two weeks, young Nigerians have taken to the streets to protest and demand the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force. The protests, however, went to an ugly extreme on Tuesday October 20, 2020, when soldiers deployed to the Lekki toll gate to dispel the protesters opened fire on the unarmed protesters.
The nation has been thrown into a chaos since the incident last Tuesday.
MEGA organisers said they have taken note of events across the country in the past two weeks and “we identify with the legitimate demand of young Nigerians to end brutality and other rights abuses by authorities responsible for protecting the lives and property of citizens.”
Akintunde-Johnson added that the organisers agree with widely held positions that inhumane force in general and riot policing negates fundamental human rights, and that the authorities should move speedily to effect broad-based reforms in the operations of Nigerian security forces, and other institutions with direct impact on the lives and welfare of the populace.
In response to events across the nation, the organisers of MEGAwards2020 have decided to suspend the ceremony but are yet to announce a new date for the event.
The statement further read:
“Consequently, the voting platforms which have received generous patronage from lovers of gospel music since its inception on October 10 shall be shut down, till further notice, as from 8pm today. That is the least we can do.
“We empathize with families of the bereaved, the injured, and others who lost valuables during this trying period. This is the moment, we believe, for Nigerian gospel artistes to extend their talents into avenues that can assist and assuage Nigerians during these difficult times.”
