First Day of national protest in Nigeria comes with uncertainty – future of protest under threat
By Dailytab24
What Happened
In the early hours of 1st of August, Nigerians in the Southeast of the country glued to their phones, waiting for news about the protest. Despite the protestors including the release of Nnamdi Kanu on their list of demands, Southeast did not move. They stayed back, watching and expecting a bitter outcome.
In Main Market, Africa’s second largest market, traders were seen playing football on the streets of the market, while others sat comfortable with crates of beer. It was a day of merriment, with their phones frequently viewed for updates.
They have seen a lot in the country. Just recently, they were massacred in their numbers for protesting for the release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been incarcerated for a couple of years now. They said it was the turn of other tribes to taste the bitter pill they have tasted over the years.
When the protestors included the release of Nnamdi Kanu on the list their demands, it was expected Southeast would rise like a phoenix and champion the protest, being they have been longing for the support of other tribes to help release the leader of IPOB, but they appear to have learned a lesson.
Yesterday, while other Nigerians took to the streets in different states, Southeastern states maintained tranquility. They stayed back home, while posting pictures and videos of mockery. “We are protesting now in a bar with our beer, go, Nigerian youths, go and stop hunger” one video seen by Dailytab24 that was not uploaded on social media says.
Prior to the protest, Southeast political leaders urged their people to avoid the protest, arguing its time they took advantage and joined the political mainstream of the country. The move is seen as strategic political calculation- a region that has long been opposed to the centre finally aligning with the centre.
Yet, it did not stop accusations against the Igbo tribe. A twitter account Lagospedia accused the Igbo of staging protest against the government of their tribe’s man, and asked them to leave Yoruba land. The accusation underscores the usual trend of always blaming Igbo tribe for everything wrong in Nigeria.
The Igbo man has stayed away from the country’s politics since after the civil war that cost nearly 3.5 million lives of Igbo. But in the last general election, Mr Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State pulled Nigerians together under his Labour Party, but lost the election to APC Bola Amed Tinubu, now President Tinubu.
During the election, the Igbo were tagged Biafra, and Peter Obi accused of trying to divide the country if he becomes the president of the country. The propaganda played a significant role in aiding what Nigerians described as ‘election fraud’ that enthroned President Bola Amed Tinubu.
President Bola Amed Tinubu took over the reins of the country and removed fuel subsidy, floated Naira and the country came to its knees. His actions inflicted hunger on the people, leading to announcement of nationwide protest, just after one year of his victory.
War of words
The protest date was announced, which forced the federal government to initiate counter-measure moves against the protest. The government ministers and Senator exchanged words with the protestors. The war of words raged on until yesterday. The protesters fulfilled the promise of coming out to protest but the future of the protest came under threat within hours of commencement.
The federal government had promised to allow the protestors to exercise their constitutional rights, but warned that the protest could be hijacked. The country’s Police also warned against violence, but the protesters promised that they would be peaceful.
The protestors also warned against the government, police or soldiers shooting the people, vowing to never give up in such scenario. The warning was as a result of the previous End SARS protest – where the government unconstitutionally attacked protestors at Lekki Toll Gate. The protestors had occupied the toll gate when soldiers shot directly at them, killing many of them. The President was accused of ordering the soldiers, when he was not even in government.
President Tinubu is known to wield unlimited power in Lagos State, and has established himself as the authentic godfather of Lagos State politics. He was accused of ordering the attack against End SARS protests because of the influence he wields in the state.
Day one of protest
This time, the protestors on the first day of the protest engaged in looting and destruction, especially in the northern region of the country. Despite the promise of peaceful protest, the protestors failed to fulfill the promise and present the government with the option to intervene.
In Kano, government building was vandalized, with video of protestors looting the building. Yet to be commissioned Nigeria Communication Commission vandalized. Elsewhere, there were videos of violence being perpetrated by the protestors. The country has the penchant for killing its citizens, and the violence, looting and vandalizing of government building gives the government the reason to unleash mayhem on the citizens protesting against it.
The government has been accused of infiltrating the protest by critics, but has not been able to provide evidence of the infiltration. During the looting and vandalizing of the government building, no protestor stood against the perpetrators. The looting and vandalizing was a mass act, involving all the protestors.
In Kaduna State, the protestors killed a policeman and looted KADIPA Office. in Jigawa, they destroyed properties, in Kastina they burnt properties, and security agents pickup burnt. The protest may have been hijacked by hoodlums.
The government has also been accused of violence against the protestors in Lagos, Abuja, Sokoto, Kastina and other places. Protestors were reportedly killed in different states. The actions so far have compromised security in the affected states, leading to declaration of 24 hours curfew.
Yobe and Kaduna were the first states to impose curfew, throwing the future of the protest in doubt. The protestors had announced that the protest will last for 10 days, but with the imposition of curfew, the future of the protest is no longer guaranteed.
Conclusion
There is uncertainty across the states that have embarked on the protest, with questions being asked if the protest will continue the next day. To continue the protest in some states, the protestors must beat the imposition of curfew and had to dare the law enforcement agents.
The protest did not go to plan and its future is now being threatened by looting, vandalizing, killings and attacks. Government houses are being attacked and police stations attempted to be torched, invoking the memory of End SARS protest.
The Protestors and their organizers must henceforth work to reorient the protestors on the need of remaining peaceful to avoid giving the law enforcement opportunity to violently quell the protest. They must find a means to change the mindset of the protestors if the protest will have a future.
