Final Day: End Bad Governance protest, success, or fail
What Happened
Today marks the last day of the #EndBadGovernance protest in the country. The protest which began on August 1 was billed to last ten days – today, D’day of scorecard.
The government and the protestors have to sit back after today to check their cards. They will check the gains and losses and juxtapose with the cost.
The protest completed the ten days vow, but at a cost quite huge. Nigerians paid the ultimate price and took all the risks the protest posed.
They embraced the idea of trying their luck, but truth be told, they met an insensitive president who has little or no business with democratic norms. President Bola Amed Tinubu paid little or no attention to the protestors.
Today will not change the overall outcome of the protest, irrespective of what it is tagged.
By the end of today, the government will make its final active arrest before they initiate a secret probe of the figures that sponsored and participated in the protest.
The protest comes to an end with an unclear path, with Nigerians not knowing where they are going or what is facing them.
After the End SARS protest, the outcome of the protest largely affected the mental state of Nigerians. After days of protest that appeared to be going in the peoples’ favour, the Lekki shooting brought abrupt end to the protest, dealing a psychological blow to Nigerian youths, who felt their efforts came to naught in the very time it mattered most.
Many End SARS protestors are still languishing in prisons across the country, with no one asking after them.
The families of those who lost their lives to the End SARS protest have not been compensated, while those who killed or ordered their killing were not arrested or prosecuted. The event of End SARS is still haunting Nigerians.
There is a voice coming from the darkest corner of the heart and screaming futility. The voice is asking about the fate of those who protested during End SARS, and the voice is pushing back against another futile adventure. The voice is saying there is a possibility of abandonment. The voice is saying no protest will achieve its aim in this country.
The voice played a significant role in keeping many Nigerians away from the protest. Yet the number that stormed the streets is commendable. It shows the never die attitude of Nigerians.
Little wonder we have heard from some people that they have lost faith in the ability to use protest or civil action to change the situation of Nigeria. This time, the people faced death and got killed once more.
The army admitted to just one kill, saying it only killed a 16 years old boy in the northern region. The question of who killed other dozens of people well documented is left for the gods.
The quest to bring about change in Nigeria will continue, and the people will remain at the mercy of politicians who see politics as a prize hunt instead of opportunity to serve the people.
The political class will remain firmly in control of the destinies of the Nigerian people, but the future has a stock of surprises. No one knows when it will give us a treat of its surprise.
Nigerians’ Loss
Nigerians can be said to have lost in this chapter, but the future is looking bright despite the loss.
The protest divided the country along the regional line, leaving only the northern region to significantly embark on the protest.
The northern region took the hits and lost their brethren. The protest became a tribal affair, and that is the main loss Nigerian youths have to deal with.
The protest lasted for ten days without yielding any result, giving the government the opportunity to breathe.
Frankly, the organizers of the protest made a huge mistake, they should not have dated the protest, because it gave the government a clue and confidence that they only have to contain the protest for ten days and everything will be fine afterwards.
The protest organizers did not take time to mobilize the entire country and have organization dedicated to the protest in all the states of the country.
With organizations dedicated to the protest, the protest can be simultaneously going on in the country. The protest needed to get that nationwide vibe. It doesn’t matter the number, but presence should be all over the country. the concept of nationwide was not implemented by the organizers.
Entire Southeast avoided the protest. Southsouth had only Rivers. West had just a few states actively involved. The nationwide vibe didn’t gel.
As the protest ends today, it will forever be on record that the protest did not achieve anything, and its purpose played into the hands of the government. Nigerians failed to take home anything from the protest, and the lives lost could be well said to be in vain.
Nigerians’ Gain
The journey to bring about the needed change in the country through civil action is still far, far away, but there is hope faintly seen in a distance.
The nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest may have failed to achieve its stated goal, but it could be a learning curve going forward. The days of little beginning that are often filled with mistakes should not be neglected.
Nigerians now know that irrespective of what happens, there are people who are willing to answer the call to save the soul of Nigeria.
Had the protest entirely not held, it would have been a significant blow, but because it was held in the northern and southern protectorate of the country, it’s a breeding factor. The protest organizers have to work with the outcome and use it as a frame to guide future planning.
Nigerians can now see where they need to work on, and the very factor they need to address.
The organizers failed to give the government a comprehensive protest, but they now know mobilization has to be under a nationwide group, after all, revolution starts with few and ends with many- they should start with few nationwide and should not bother about numbers yet.
Nigerian Government’s Loss
The government of President Bola Amed Tinubu has been well exposed by the protest that it is not doing well and has failed the country.
The protest attracted international coverage, which has once more shown that the country collapsed under the administration of President Bola Amed Tinubu.
The government of President Bola Amed Tinubu has been rattled significantly, now it knows the people can mobilize and demand for a particular thing in the country, irrespective of efforts from different quarters and presidency to shun them.
Prior to August 1, the presidency invested heavily to stop the protest, but the people protested eventually, marking their first victory over the government.
President Bola Amed Tinubu while making his speech tried to paint his government as one that respects human rights, but the protest exposed it to be one that has no iota of regard for human right, and that is how international community now sees the government. The impression will forever haunt his government and discredit it internationally.
The government may not have succumbed to the demands of the protest, but the people forced President Tinubu out of his comfort to make a speech and address them. That single act opened up the people that the government is vulnerable and afraid. It would give the people the lift needed to push further in the future. They now know that if this protest that failed could trigger the government, then, if they organized a successful one, it would send the government packing.
The government is now aware and afraid that should the people come together, they will be able to move it. The fear of the people is a reminder to the government that something can cook tomorrow.
The distress and discomfort of the people have been registered, and despite unleashing thugs, police and soldiers, the people didn’t run away. They stayed until the last day.
Nigerian Government’s Gain
The government can beat its chest that it was able to contain the protest until the last day.
And it can take pride in the fact that it didn’t succumb to the demands of the protestors. While that is the case, the government knows that tribe was the catalyst that earned it victory and not its ability. But it’s alright when it’s called government’s victory.
The government now has experimented on how best they think they can address subsequent protest, and where they need to invest money or unleash thugs and murderous security agents. The government has learned the trade of protests thwarting with everything that unfolded during these ten days.
A divided Nigeria is the gain of the government because it consigns the people to perpetual enslavement. It helps keep the people down forever and gives the government the opportunity to impose and do what pleases it without collective opposition.
The protest gave the government a clue that if they got one region to shun mass action against it, it could well play in their favour.
Conclusion
The protest may have come and gone (Today), but it’s a learning curve for both the government and the people of Nigeria. It has given the people the opportunity to know where they need to work on and given the government where they need to further pin down the people. It’s a two-way experience, where the other needs to tighten up against each other.
The tribal divide in the country continues to threaten collective mission, and that is where the government appears to hold massive advantage.
The protest marks the first time Nigerians are reacting to hunger and economic hardship, but it won’t be the last as it could be a glimpse of what is yet to come.
The government may have survived the first round because of tribal divide, but should the whole country turn out en mass against it, it won’t survive the wrath of the people.
