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What Next After The Protest
No matter who you are, no matter what your politics are, this is one of the most important issues in Nigeria open to discussion right now. Protest and its aftermath.
People argued that without protest in place, societies are less resilient and more prone to severe, lasting harms amid the economic hardship we are subjected today.
We may argue that protest is a foundational principle and a crucial interpretive tool of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which is based not only on obligations of the state but also on responsibilities held by individuals.
While the government is the ultimate guarantor and implementor of those civil rights, individuals have a role to play in contributing to the system guaranteeing social needs including security to mention a few.
Underlining the extent of the economic hardships, people are alleging that those who had been paid to condemn the protesters, including security agencies have turned around to protect the protestors, while criticism of government’s neglecting of socio-economic issues continues unabated.
Today’s address to the Nation by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the fears that Fed govt is not serious on tackling kidnappings and insurgencies.
While leadership is attributed to the way of thinking, a way of communicating, a way of linking with issues needing urgent attention, BAT has shifted his critics attention to State and Local governments, blaming their leaderships of complacency and indifference.
That being said, protest connects the individual with the collective, makes individual wellbeing dependent upon the wellbeing of other members of the society.
WHAT FUTURE DOES PROTEST HOLD FOR NIGERIA?
I am going to try to propose a historical overview, and use the examples of two men, one who brought shame and war on this country and the other/s, who brought bad peace, but peace that’s holding on nonetheless. These men cannot escape history when bad governance becomes a topic of discussion in our polity.
The ability to make individual sacrifices for the general interest is not evenly distributed. Unions like TUC, ASUU, PENGASAN, CSU etc have different calibres. Some are fitter, stronger, wealthier and otherwise more powerful than others. Expectations stemming from protests dictates individual abilities and power to influence.
I am hopeful that this way we may at least begin to talk to each other about today’s issues. Maybe we will find a middle ground
We hold that the lessons learnt from this protest is essential to ensure the progressive realisation of our socio-economic solutions that would help govt to formulate a more collectivist, republican and egalitarian agenda for citizenry.
This is where randoms can be brought together to make some sense. Learning could happen to people when they are on the edge of chaos.
M K Ilyasu
04/08/2024
