By Dr Leke Adebisi
Every Nigerian youth must now be determined and ‘shine their eyes well’ to properly align with the new youth movement that was crafted with the #EndSARS emblem. This movement erupted and rocked the world of the Nigerian politicians who are now at a loss of what to do to curb the looming challenge that awaits them at the next general election come 2023.
Do not get me wrong, historically, there has been a deep yearn and struggle and indeed movements, activities and programmes targeted to set Nigeria straight. It must also be understood that these movements were slow and indiscernible. The present regiment of youths have shown their discontent and lack of tolerance for status quo. The desire for a better Nigeria which eluded their parents has become their central focus and they will not take a ‘No’ for an answer. Backed up by innumerable modern twenty first century technologies, they have shown that they can do a better job. Their demands are not too grievous, they have only asked for an end to corruption, repression and bad governance in Nigeria.
The spirit of disenchantment among Nigerians, which pre-dates the transition to democracy in 1999 is yet to be appeased. The so-called democracy in its current form has continued to present itself as a ‘Militarised’ democracy. Since the changeover to democracy in 1999, two out of the three elected presidents were ex-military head of state, so where is the dividends of democracy? Little wonder why the country has not changed status after two decades in the world of new democracy. The good news though, is that the youths have woken up, the chickens have come home to roost.
The United States 2020 election will be the 59th quadrennial Presidential election. When I listen to President Donald Trump and former Vice president Joe Biden campaign for the votes of the citizens, none of their campaign was based on promises such as ‘I will build road, school, markets, hospital, railway line, airports and so on’ because these infrastructures are all given as the responsibility of the Government, almost as if Governments were created to provide them anyway. Rather their debate and campaign were based on ideological matters that creates better life and comfort for their citizens beyond the infrastructural facilities. They engage on issues such as how to tackle climate change, Covid-19 pandemic, law and order, gender equality etc.
In the case of Nigerian politicians, their manifesto centres on infrastructural development, as these are types of expenditure with easy manipulability. The current Nigerian political system is one perpetuated on a pursuit to take advantage of the citizens it purportedly serves while the pockets and bank accounts of the politicians are fattened. The lives of the citizens and specifically the future of the youths is being sacrificed on daily basis on the altar of self-enrichment, suppression and blind plundering.
The youths’ demand for what rightfully belongs to them started with the immediate cessation of the Special Anti-Riot Squad (SARS) police operation in the nation, which the Government admitted immediately in the #EndSARS protest. This is quite unconventional in the history of Nigeria, a position that was confirmed in a national broadcast made by President Muhammadu Buhari. However, the stance and tactics of the protesters is super commendable also, they have dotted every ‘i’ and crossed every ‘t’, the Government had no choice but to concede.
At a certain point when the youth movement became unstoppable, they were physically attacked and shot at and teargassed at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos, a fundamental error made by the Government. Then hoodlums (who were not part of the protest) saw this as an opportunity to strike against the Government, nobody knew that the ripple effect of Government’s heavy-handedness will reverberate through the nooks and corners of Nigeria so fast.
In the wake of the nationwide looting that pervaded almost the entire nation, where the Covid-19 palliative warehouses were being burgled, thereby making the nation state ungovernable. A sizeable number of states were placed under an emergency 24-hour curfew with a view to calm the situation and forestall law and order. Infact the hoodlums went further to loot private shops and malls. In a disappointing manner, this ugly incident is a gross reflection of the level of poverty and hunger in the land. The saying goes that ‘a hungry man is an angry man.’ None of these actions can be laid on the innocent youths, whose protest was peaceful.
The so-called looted Covid-19 palliatives, had they been distributed as intended by the donors, there would have been little or no incentive for looting, it is a proverbial case of dangling a fried meat before the cat. While the hoodlums are not in any way justified for their action, the Government cannot be absolved of the blame either. Again, this points to the fact that the peaceful #EndSARS protest cannot and must not in any way be tarnished with the action of the hoodlums.
The Government must align itself to the narrative. The die is cast! The Nigerian youths have finally laid the path to recovery, a resuscitation of the Africa’s sleeping giant. It is now clear that the teeth of the Nigerian youths are firmly locked onto this bone, will they remain focused to sustain the momentum? The lives claimed by the military shoot out at the Lekki Tollgate, on the other hand, must not go for nothing, hence they have something to fight for. Whichever way it goes, the youth must understand that violence will achieve very little or nothing in the change they are about to birth. All politics are local and often fought on ideological grounds, the youths have all it requires to win this battle, they have the numbers, the movement and a well-articulated demand.
Listen young men and women of the Nigerian youth, you need no guns or machete to win this battle. All that is required is your voter’s card. Do not allow yourself to be cajoled in any way to trust in the existing impotent structures, your ideas are new, so must your structures be.
Show interest in your local politics, call the elected officers to account from time to time, right from the Governor down to the Local Government Chairman and then be ready for the 2023 showdown.
