July 29, 2024
All appears set for the August 1, 2024 nationwide protest over hunger and hardship, which has been brewing for over one year.
Nigerians were still recovering from the “no-money, no-fuel and no-food” economic crisis foisted on them by the expiring President Muhammadu Buhari regime in pursuit of a pointless “naira redesign policy” last year. His successor, President Bola Tinubu, introduced his draconian petrol subsidy implementation and naira floating measures to worsen situations.
None of the palliative measures promised the people has made the desired impact of ending insecurity and making foodstuffs once more available and affordable. All we have seen are cosmetic measures. On the other hand, government officials and political officeholders have been splurging on our scarce resources, refusing to share in the burdens of hardship with the people. These are the main triggers for the protest.
All appears set for the August 1, 2024 nationwide protest over hunger and hardship, which has been brewing for over one year.
Nigerians were still recovering from the “no-money, no-fuel and no-food” economic crisis foisted on them by the expiring President Muhammadu Buhari regime in pursuit of a pointless “naira redesign policy” last year. His successor, President Bola Tinubu, introduced his draconian petrol subsidy implementation and naira floating measures to worsen situations.
None of the palliative measures promised the people has made the desired impact of ending insecurity and making foodstuffs once more available and affordable. All we have seen are cosmetic measures. On the other hand, government officials and political officeholders have been splurging on our scarce resources, refusing to share in the burdens of hardship with the people. These are the main triggers for the protest.
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The organisers are mustering strongly on the social media and other platforms, while the Federal and state government officials and the law enforcement agencies have also been bracing up for what is to come.
Protests are part of the constitutional rights of the citizens. Even President Tinubu not only participated in protests during the General Sani Abacha and Goodluck Jonathan regimes, he also sponsored many of them and spoke at rallies against what he and his followers saw as bad governance.
Under the All Progressives Congress, APC, dispensation, things have gotten considerably worse. Nigerians can’t even access their farms due to insecurity. Staple food items have become untouchable.
Much as we concur that the protests are justified, we are however apprehensive. Though the Federal Government has been sounding generally conciliatory, it has allowed some of its megaphone hirelings to indulge in inciting antics that could provoke people into actions that will not augur well for the peaceful cohabitation of Nigerians. Such officials should be withdrawn from the public space forthwith.
We must learn from the sad experiences of the #EndSARS protests of October, 2020. The protests were well-organised, with Nigerian youths united and patriotic in their demand for an end to police brutality and bad governance. Unfortunately, The Federal and Lagos State governments mobilised the army and hoodlums against them.
It was the intimidation of the protesters and the Lekki Toll Gate shootings that provoked the entry of hoodlums into the fray, resulting in the massive losses of lives and property. We must learn from that experience.
The protesters and the government and their supporters must know where to draw the line. People are hungry, angry and desperate. They want clear answers, not propaganda, intimidation, ethnic profiling or offer of “palliatives” that only benefit politicians and their hangers-on.
We urge the protesters to emulate the peaceful and patriotic tactics of the #EndSARS organisers and refrain from plunging Nigeria into chaos.
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Let us not play into the waiting hands of our enemies. (VANGUARD EDITORIAL)
