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Chief Tony Dania, a prominent Lagos-based human rights activist and lawyer, has assessed the #EndBadGovernance protest, noting that it has already achieved about 25% of its intended goals even before the protest officially began. Dania attributed the emergence of the protests to the government’s failure to proactively address the issues that ignited them.
During a press briefing in Lagos, Dania acknowledged that the Federal Government has responded to the citizens’ grievances by implementing several populist measures.
These include selling rice at reduced prices, supporting Dangote’s local refinery project, and approving an increase in the minimum wage. According to Dania, these actions demonstrate the government’s acknowledgment of the issues raised by the protests.
Despite supporting the protest’s objectives, Dania expressed concerns about its organization. He criticized the protest’s coordination, suggesting it lacked a structured plan and was at risk of being hijacked by criminals or politicians. Dania warned that such hijacking could lead to chaos and potentially violent confrontations, undermining the protest’s aims.
Dania questioned the ability of the protest’s organizers to manage such risks effectively. He raised concerns about the potential for violence, citing the risk of hoodlums infiltrating the protests and the possibility of counter-protests from the government or political figures.
This, he argued, could lead to destruction of infrastructure and harm to individuals, similar to the incidents during the #EndSARS protests.
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The activist emphasized that while the protest was justified, he opposed any form of violence or destruction. He highlighted that effective protests should be managed in a way that minimizes harm to society, drawing attention to his own methods of protest through advocacy and media, which he believes are impactful without causing damage.
Dania identified several key issues fueling the protests, including pervasive corruption among government officials, high living costs, insufficient support for small and medium enterprises, and high youth unemployment.
He suggested that solutions to these problems involve implementing self-sustaining policies, supporting local industries, and addressing security concerns.
In his view, the protests may not endure for the full ten days as planned by the organizers. He noted that a significant portion of Nigerians relies on daily earnings for their survival and may not be able to sustain participation in prolonged demonstrations.
Dania’s analysis underscores the complexity of the protest dynamics, recognizing the partial success of the movement while cautioning against potential risks associated with its execution.
His evaluation reflects a nuanced understanding of the intersection between activism, government response, and societal impact.
