Perilous times ahead (2)

The peaceful demonstration against bad government embarked upon by mostly youths commenced Last Thursday being Aug 1, 2024 unfortunately the protest took it’s toll with the death of two police officers and over twenty civilians  while over 1 thousand protesters were arrested by security personnel across the country.

Interestingly some states in the East did not see any reason why they should join in the anti government protest. A number of reasons were proffered for shunning the agitation. Many say the Igbos are learning their lesson as it is said “once beating twice shy” history is a funny reminder of past funny events which makes the affected too.

Thread sensibly so as not to become a laughing stock. Unfortunately the protesters watch hoodlums who infiltrated the crowd went on destruction  spree like the Kenya protest which left behind drops of tears and blood, destroyed many government property. If the proper assessment of the protests were to be carried out, much blame would be placed on the doorstep of government and some trigger-happy security personnel who would not  adhere to international  standard by spraying tire gas and firing  rubber bullet during organised protests to disperse protesters and hoodlums around the country by using life bullet for no justifiable reason. 

The protest which started  in a peaceful way, not withstanding the fact that federal government had earlier consulted with members of the Senate,  House of Assembly, governors, minister and traditional rulers to help convince the Nigerian youths against the protest. It is in a crucial moment like this that wisdom always prevails. The protest was not sectional neither did it have ethnic coloration it was a complete federal concern protest by the promising and concerned youth of Nigeria and so it is believed that the president being the father of the nation, a soothing word from him would have dowsed the nerves and tension across the country but unfortunately those  managing and giving the president a feedback seemed lackadaisical on the issue raised by the youth giving the impression that the supposed hunger protest has not achieved its goals even as the presidential address came rather late.

In 40 years of my journalistic coverage of protest and demonstrations at both the state and federal level I have come to realization that most Nigerian leaders do not deem it necessary and important to address nagging issues affecting the citizens even when it is obvious that thing are falling apart.

Instead they exhibit unnecessary leadership arrogance which often infuriates the people who finds it difficult to understand the mindset of their leader even when they address the protesters or the nation pertinent issues raised are not always well addressed and proffer lasting solutions to them.

However, the protesters who ignorantly allowed hoodlums to infiltrate their ranks cannot be absolved of blame. When hoodlums infiltrate the ranks of protesters you can easily notice the behavioral tendencies. All they are there to do is to steal destroy and kill.

That is why those who are genuinely protests ought to have an eye on the next person to be sure that they are in the same boat with them or are the spoiler such odd to be handed over to the police for prosecution.

If truly we love this country, a presidential address ought to have been made few days before the commencement of the protest not while the protests was on. Five or ten minutes address by the president taking note of all the concerns of the aggrieved Nigerian youth would have changed the drama instead of the medicine after death approach .

This was the same costly mistake of the president of Kenya William Ruto who did not heed earlier demands of the youth who cried over the high tax rate and corrupt practices among his cabinet ministers in the country.

The Kenya situation created hardship and extreme poverty among the citizens.When the youth embarked on peaceful demonstration to force the government to change its policy unfortunately it snowballed into the government introducing thugs which changed the tempo of the protest into violence and resulted in mass killing of protesters.

If we believe in the country, why would issues bothering on the sovereignty of the country be an issue of unseriousness. We should always show seriousness by always feeling the pains of the people. When the youth  who are the future leaders of the country make demands or pray for a change in leadership or policy such should be regarded with all seriousness because for a country to move forward the youth have a major part to play.

This is the symptoms that is happening across the world where youths are taking to the street to vent and vex their  anger over corruption, anti people policies, maladministration and other negative vices.

Since the Bola Tinubu  administration which was predicted by prophet James  Kunle Hephzibah as “bitter leaf and bitter kola administration” came on board, people have been crying out over the high cost of food, electricity, and  many more.

Unfortunately the government  have been turning deaf ear to the cry of the people until the youth  took up the issue passionately. I went to the streets, most issues like this gets to this extent before the government will now call for a dialogue. Why did the government not call for the dialogue with the organizers while it was holding meeting with all the stakeholders like governors, traditional rulers, legislators, and others.

This is like looking for a black sheep in the dark instead of during the day. Ruling Nigeria needs wisdom, and understanding and not always depending on security agencies who are used to exhibiting the the togger off militarization, who still believe in the use of force to achieve their aims, even in a democratic setting, if we are truly interested in this democracy like General Ibrahim Babaginda  said recently, we should not do anything to to jeopardise this flourishing  democracy. In fact, we should be very sensitive  when it concerns the plight of the people especially when they are complaining over high electricity tariff and epileptic power supply which has forced many foreign companies out of the country.

The question is: Does it take rocket science to address all the demands of the Protesters and curb  corruption and insecurity?  The corrupt practices have created more problems for the country. No wonder, foreign companies and industries are leaving the country in droves this is not good for the country It’s attracts  perilous times. (concluded)