Proposed Nationwide Protest: Nigeria Will Survive, Let’s Be Calm

Opinion:

BY LANRE OGUNDIPE

Mr. President, l urged you to please stop the threats emanating from security agencies on the proposed nationwide protest. All you need to do is to engage Nigerians and plead for their understanding. You also need to inform them of the efforts you are making to ameliorate the hardships they are going through as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the Naira. 

As I follow with keen interest, government’s reaction to the protest announced to hold from August 1, 2024. I recall the events of years gone by.

Mr. President, for those of us who had played one role or the other in the protests organised by Civil Society organisations or   organised Labour in recent past, l believed that protesters hardly nurse any plan to act violently or embark on reckless activities during such protests.  Rather, what I have observed is that it is the government, who usually, through the security agencies or other 5th columnists, provoke protesters to turn violent.

Therefore, all that the government needs to do –   at this critical point in time, is to demonstrate understanding and empathy, and use every means possible, to assuage the anger of the people, who are determined to take to the streets to vent their frustration.

This is because, no citizen in his or her right mind, would set out to cause or disturb the peace or embark on destruction of properties or infrastructures built with taxpayers’ money.

It therefore smacks of sheer intolerance, for the government or any of its agents to deny the people the opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights by using force to suppress their voices which, which on many occasions had proved counterproductive.

At this juncture, Mr. President, my appeal to you as a leader of the people, a notable pro-democracy activist and veteran of many struggles – who had led many protests in this country, is to be more proactive in responding to agitations in a manner that would disarm the enemy of progress, and prove to the opposition that you understand the game and care about the people you are governing.

This would enhance your dignity as a politician who understands what good leadership is all about and the dynamics of effective statecraft.

Mr. President, I believed  that the prompt action taken on Dangote Refinery is  an indication that you meant well for the country .A decision  that  is  being applauded in many quarters as a step in the right direction.

Your release of loads of rice at discounted rate is also a testimony to your responsiveness to your people’s cries. Though, there is need to prevent this largess from the usual misappropriation by unscrupulous Nigerians.

Flooding the market with rice and other essential commodities at discounted prices should be done to break the cartels, who are profiteering by inflicting hardships on citizens. If these measures could be taken alongside the recent salary increase, it would mellow down the anger of the people and bring their hope alive.

As a matter of fact, this is not the time to release security agencies on protest – suppressing mission. Some of who have been threatening Nigerians, simply because they are protesting the hardship inflicted on them. Those shouting on top of their voices chanting violence into the announced “peaceful protest”, should be put under the searchlight and questioned if the protest turns awry.

Democracy is government of the people by the people and for the people.  Government agents should not and must not be seen warring with the same people they are employed to protect.

Nigeria and its citizens will survive this period. For this to happen, the leadership must be willing to bear most of the sacrifices, while the governed should also admit the fact that not only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is guilty of bad governance. State Governors, local governments, and the legislature are all culpable at different levels.

We the followers, too, are complicit. We have failed in our responsibility as good citizens.  Most of us failed to do what is right or at the right time, at our various duty posts.

Now is the time to turn the tide! Let’s us bail our country out of the current mess through collective efforts and not through .security brutality.

*Lanre Ogundipe, former President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) writes in from Abuja. July 30, 2024.