By
Linda Ayuba Ganya
For the past couple of weeks, I have heard a lot of debate going on about the said protest to take place in the country and I couldn’t help but begin to think about a lot of possibilities that things could either go well or make matters worse than it is at the moment.
I have heard youths advocate for a protest, some religious leaders as well as majority of the masses want it to happen by all means. But I believe this is the right time we should also have a rethink and run back to the drawing board to trace where we have gone wrong from the onset. When we blame the giant elephants in the room for all their corrupt ways, it is also right that we blame ourselves even more for aiding them and being their accomplices at all times because it is the grass that suffers afterall. The spaghetti and rice we eat for a day is causing us years of starvation and torment, that cash, given during election to mobilize youth to cast their vote for a candidate who for so many reasons should not be elected is why so many people in your community are dying of hunger and starvation.
No doubt, Protests have long been a significant part of Nigeria’s socio-political landscape. One of the most notable and popular protests in recent history is the #EndSARS movement that gained global attention in 2020. The protests were largely peaceful but unfortunately turned violent in some instances, leading to clashes between protesters and security forces. Despite the government’s promises to address the issues raised by the protesters, many feel that little has been done to bring about meaningful change.
Historically, Nigeria has seen various protests related to issues such as corruption, election fraud, economic hardship, and calls for good governance. These protests have often been met with varying responses from the government, with some leading to positive reforms and others being suppressed through force. The resilience of the Nigerian people in continually speaking out against injustice and demanding accountability is a testament to their commitment to creating a better nation.
To the masses of Nigeria, it is high time we come together and unite, it is high time we begin to look out for each other, putting behind our differences in faith, traditions, ethnicity and the rest of other factors we have been holding unto. The moment we begin to be each other’s keepers, that moment even the so called politicians who parade their selves in the name of the masses will no longer have the effrontery to stand on our behaves to say or do what we have not collectively agreed on, the so called religious leaders who behind our backs take brown envelops and material gifts just to come to our place of worship to advocate for certain individuals, clouding our judgements on the right thing to do, will no more have the audience to do so. To those high network individuals, who seat at their homes and offices to sponsor young youths into causing havoc and menacing communities all for their selfish interest, will no longer have any one to send if only our youth will see them selves as instruments of change. Afterall, their own children are schooling abroad while our own are sent to do the dirty jobs.
Nigeria is diversified and full of people with potentials, our determination and collective efforts without any showcase of violence it’s going to be a start of our sense of maturity and willingness to change the change that has changed us today. The Change that we so dearly desire begins with us and as we prepare come the 1st of August to protest, let us all have it at the back of our minds that it is for the sole aim of improving the situation we are currently facing in the country.
