As the hands of the clock tick towards the first day of August, the hearts of many Nigerians, particularly the patriotic ones, are beating, or breathing with short, and in some cases quick breaths, for reasons that have bearing with the planned protest, scheduled to start on that day and date. Indeed, our constitution permits protest, but protests with a proviso, viz: it must be conducted peacefully and carried out in the manner of maturity. In reference to this particular protest, I have reservations with regards to the adherence to the word maturity. And my reasons are many.
By Bala Ibrahim
To start with, the planners and promoters of the protest seem to be mostly exhibiting characteristics that are in conformity with the definition of childishness — the direct opposite of the meaning of maturity. Secondly, the drums being beaten prior to the protest are carrying the sound and rhythm of the calls for mayhem — violent or invitation to extreme disorder and chaos. And I believe these are in conflict with the ambition of those that crafted the provision for permission to protest in our constitution.
Indeed, peaceful protests are meant to play a significant role in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of every society, particularly under a democratic setting like ours in Nigeria. In civilized societies or advanced democracies, protests have repeatedly motivated pragmatic and productive social change, resulting in cheerfulness everywhere. But is the planned protest for August first designed to achieve the same in Nigeria? Are the planners working with the sincere ambition of expressing their disagreement, opinions, and objections to government actions going to tally with the principles of democracy, or just a smokescreen designed to disguise their undemocratic or sinister intentions?
Truly, when done in accordance with the permissible provisions, protests can bring attention to errors in governance and demand rectification in earnest. That is the very reason why such a right to peaceful protest is provided under the international and African regional Human rights frameworks, including such provision in the Nigerian constitution, which highlights it in the Public Order Act. But when we look at the ease with which previous protests were hijacked by mediocrity, one would not be wrong if he or she comes with the expression of pessimism.
Reports have it that states across the country are mostly unsettled by the momentum of the planned protest, particularly because of the facelessness of some of the planners. The jargon of the protest planners is that Nigeria is faced by a nationwide hunger and hardship. No doubt, this is a fact. But the government has bent down to put in place measures that would address them.
According to the planners also, they want to draw the attention of the federal and state governments to the worsening plight of the Nigerian citizens. Again, that is also true, but the government has bent down to put in place measures that would address that plight. The situation in Nigeria is indeed pathetic, and anything that would be done to stampede the government to action is worthy of encouragement, provided it is done according to the democratically laid down rules and regulations.
From their verbal and body languages, the federal and state governments, along with the country’s security agencies, are not comfortable with the plot, as a result of which, they are appealing for a dialogue with the planners. Taking a cue from the outcome of the EndSARS protest of the year 2020, that resulted in the destruction of private and public properties by the protesters, disruption of movement, looting and vandalization of shops, anyone with a sense of nationhood would not want Nigeria to be visited by such negative act of transgression.
In an effort to arrive at a truce, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, had come out to plead with the organizers to please shelve their plan, saying that the issues raised by them are already being addressed.
Aside from the negative reports coming from Kenya, detailing the Human misery and degradation that were bequeathed to the country by an uncontrolled protest, psychologists have advanced that even coming near the location of a violent protest can increase the risk of depressive symptoms. Similarly, witnessing violence or being a victim of looting or physical violence is associated with an increased risk of post-trauma disorder syndrome, otherwise called PTSD.
There is an African proverb that says, a misstep by the one in front warns those behind. The ambition of the proverb is to say, those who know that something is coming are better prepared to face it than those who do not know. We have seen what happened to countries that were nonchalant to the threats of protests put to them by the planners, by staying relaxed and calm, till the happen happened to happen. Now they are having to tell the tale of ugly tells.
May the President’s plea for a prorogue fall on listening ears, so that the country is saved from the agony of falling victim to such tragic mishap. Ameen.
