By Ogbo Okolo
In barely four years after the last protest, Nigerians are back in the streets again to demand their rights. We are in already day 5, protesters coming out in numbers irrespective of age, gender, tribe, ethnicity, religion or whatever adjective we might use to describe the situation, the common denominator is that it is all about hunger, insecurity, hardship and rising cost of living in the country, may be a good omen.Anation so blessed inhuman and natural resources but then, the crops of leaders have failed to optimize its potentials. It is you are rich, or you are poor, the middle class is no more due to years of ineffective governance and maladministration especially. There is certainly good news which is, the country is still on the path to greatness.
Some persons have come to ask why Nigerians should protest, where are the Igbos etc? And I laugh. Protest is as old as Methuselah; it started long ago as the first record of protest was around 1300. Protest derives from the Latin word protestari which means ‘’to declare publicly’’ from the root testari, meaning to testify. However, we seem to look at it, it is used to indicate a sense of outwardness as nonviolent protest came into existence in through the independence movement of India under the leadership of Gandhi, with civil disobedience being a veritable tool of nonviolent resistance. History do have it that the biggest protest in the word or largest took place in Rome, Europe as it recorded about 3million people and this is even listed in the Guinness book or recodes as the largest anti-war rally in history.
In October of 2020, Nigerians (especially Genz) had risen, marched in their numbers including myself, to demand an end to the Special Armed-Robbery Squad popularly known and referred to as SARS. Their call has been widespread with the hashtag #endsars. They took it to another level by adding #endpolicebrutality and also #endmaladministration. I got government’s attention then via their swift call through the Presidential fiat on the 12th of October, went further to promise investigations into extra judicial killings, police reform among others. How come SARS have been scrapped four times in a few years and we are still where we are?
The right to protest is enshrined in the Constitution. Some of us left the country out of frustration about the states non-challant attitudes to the plights of the poor. These unfortunate incidences predate the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but have been made worse by his policy direction. I happen to be among those that left the country to pursue other life dreams and aspiration as the pains of living in Nigeria, were unbearable. I once asked myself, what have I not seen living in Nigeria for about 45years of my youthful and adult age yet? It’s as though we make one step forward, 20 steps backward. Many other youth and adult with great potentials have left and are still leaving in mass exodus as through we are a war thorn nation which shouldn’t be, Other European countries and America are better off today not just for any other reason but due to high influx of migrants from Africa helping their workforce in healthcare, manufacturing sectors, agriculture, education such the United Kingdom has a special visa program for Africans, especially young Nigerians to come work in the education and health/human services sector which has further made the country to loose most of their upcoming young and skilled workforce best brains
According to John C. Maxwell, Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another. Having listened to our Presidents address to the nation as a result if the street protest and agitations with respect to the yearnings and aspiration of the young and poor population who are demanding for better life, life that should allow them to breathe, I noted some issues from the broadcast. It would have been better the broadcast was not done in a hurry to allow Mr. president to get some of the few citizens in the forefront of the protest, hear from them and appraise and better understand what Nigerians are passing through.
Anyone can agree with me that the speech was a disjointed one that failed to address any of the issues raised by Nigerians who are feeling the pain. Let’s look at some of the matters arising from the speech. He talked about the pain due to loss of lives in in Borno, Jigawa, Kano and other states. What measures are being put in place to address security concerns in the country? Just a few days ago, Umuecheke community, the headquarters of Onuimo in Imo State witnessed gruesome killings. What arrest has been made to ensure the people are rest assured of government’s commitment to secure lives and properties as that is their primary responsibility. Let me remind the government that in Enugu State, the people of Uzo-Uwani has been crying daily how their land has been overrun by bandits and herdsmen killing her innocent citizens at will. Why should Nimbo community ever witness another massacre of its citizens on the 28th April 2024? Recall the first attack happened in April 25, 2016. A call has always been made for government at all levels to nip these killings in the bud. It is worthy of note that note that Uzo-Uwani is an agrarian community and food basket LGA in Enugu state. How do we ensure food for all as the coast is not clear for this community in moving about for increased food for all because despite the machineries that was mentioned that are on the way, are they for Lagos and Abuja because without a secure community such as Nimbo Community, Chibok Community, communities in Yobe State, a number of them, in Zamfara, Katsina, Kafanchan axis, Agatu, Benue axis etc we are not going to see any propensity change in agriculture production
Nevertheless, other areas from the speech as a concerned citizen, when we heard about the investors coming in, I asked which investors or are they from the moon, which sector and what are they brining on board and we hope they are not portfolio investors/venture capitalist? We need to know. Most multinational and conglomerates are leaving Nigeria in droves due to the harsh business climate and operating environment, I don’t need to reel them out here because they are too numerous to mention for example GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), what about Procter & Gamble, Bolt food & Jumia food, PZ Cussons et al. What has the impact of the revenue to debt reduction been as mentioned in the speech by Mr. President from 97% to 68% which ought to ensure more financial freedom to fund essential services such as education and healthcare, infrastructure?
There is need for the Federal Government to have a discussion with the bankers committee, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria, Nigeria Medical Association and Nigerian Bar association on some of the intervention programmes of the CBN which would support the small, medium and larger firms engaged in production activities.
I commend the President for being courageous enough as a father to address his children who are hunger, who feel insecure, who live in fear, who are downtrodden but as for addressing the concerns of the protesters, he has not done justice to that in his speech. Let him tell Nigerians what he is doing to cut the cost of governance, Human capital and capacity development and devolution of power through constitutional amendments, judicial reforms and INEC unbundling etc. I also thank him for charging the police and security operatives to ensure the protection of life and property. I wish him all the best as Nigerians expect him to ameliorate the suffering in the country. After all, the buck stops on his table.
• Okolo writes from the United Kingdom