PROTEST GALORE – Protest and No Protest

“Fear is the key that unlocks the suitcases and handbags of the rich” – A Seminole Indian uncovers the formula for fear, by James Hardley Chase in “Want To Stay Alive?”

August 1, 2024. A fearful landmark in the history of democracy in Nigeria.

In a spontaneous response to the threat of protests by youths across the country, machinery of government shifted into high gears in rapid succession, with dollar President Tinubu’s spokespersons reeling out a barrage of measures put in place to bring relief to the masses including the 1000-km Sokoto-Badagry Coastal Highway with 58 large and medium dams to be built across six states; a Renewed Hope for Artisans program, Skill-Up Artisans, SUPA powered by the Industrial Training Fund, ITF to train 50,000,000 artisans in 4 years; selling of raw crude to Dangote refinery at naira rates rather than dollars; disbursement of rice to the masses, which was repackaged in unbranded bags for resale to the poor; etc.

These did not stop the moving hungry, angry mass train of youthful protesters.

Youths converged in their droves all over the country to demand an end to bad governance, carrying placards, and peacefully airing their grievances which bordered principally on the harsh economic conditions.

In Abuja, the Federal Capital, another group appeared on the scene, carrying placards that said: “No Protest”. This group didn’t look any different from those that carried placards that said, “End Bad Governance”. If anything, this second group of No-Protest looked even hungrier. The stage was set for confrontation and showdown.

A skinny, hungry looking man carrying a No-Protest placard was interviewed by the press. “As you can see there is hunger everywhere, prices of food has gone up. Before you could drink garry for fifty naira, but now you cannot even drink garry. Things are bad. That is why we are here, to say No-Protest.” Really, really?

Suddenly, the scrawny man was shoved aside by another energetic young man, breathing fire. “We know that things are bad, but what we are saying is that they should give government time. We are here to say, No-Protest. Give the government time. All we are saying is that they need time!”

Soon after, violence erupted in some parts of the country like Kano, Kaduna, some parts of Abuja, etc. with wanton burning and looting.

Government spokespersons had alleged that the end bad governance protest was being sponsored by anti-government agents.

So, who sponsored the No-Protest groups? How much pittance went into their little greedy pockets?

The bottom line is that there is protest. Whether End Bad Governance Protest, or No-Protest. Both are protests. Government cannot shy away from this glaring fact.

As Nigerians wait on the brink, shops locked, eyes peeled for vandals, we are all waiting to see the end of protests. And Tinubu’s response.

Keep away from violence.

Keep safe.