I should say right away that I am an activist in my own right and have been since I was a student. I’m not against protests taking place under the appropriate circumstances, even though the planned nationwide hunger protest meant to put a stop to hardships may not be for my generation.
The EndSars protests, which started Oct. 8, 2020, resulted in a disaster that claimed many lives and severely damaged property, especially in Abuja and Lagos. Thus, numerous commercial buildings in Lagos, such as Shoprite, continue to bear the scars of the devastation caused by an otherwise nonviolent protest known as EndSars. The million-dollar question is: Why did the nonviolent protest result in deaths and destruction as unintended consequences?
Let’s go back to the 2012 protests, in which incumbent Nigerian president Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu participated. That year’s protests against the perceived bad policies of the then President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, lasted for days without resulting in any property damage or fatalities. The only single death came from an accidental discharge of a trigger-happy policeman.
One might question why this was the case in contrast to the EndSars protests in 2020, which resulted in numerous fatalities and the destruction of businesses valued at billions of naira. The truth is that, in any democracy, the temperament of the government dictates what it deems appropriate protest behaviour and civil disobedience. Jonathan allowed democracy to flourish to the fullest extent possible through both nonviolent protests and free and fair elections, which are essential components of democratic government.
Muhammadu Buhari as president had less democratic credentials and consequently declared that the EndSars protest was intended to topple his government. That was the disposition of the ruling class at the time. This clarifies why the army had to be called in to quell the protest in Lagos. Security personnel were also seen dropping off thugs in SUVs who eventually disrupted the EndSars protest in Abuja.
Yes, EndSars was originally a peaceful protest but somehow resulted in bloodshed and devastation. The deep state’s incursion was part of the cause of the violence, or at least the catalyst for it. However, a dispassionate analysis of the EndSars protest’s videos would also show that, at least in Lagos, the thugs who infiltrated the protest eventually helped to turn it violent, committing acts of arson and destruction even though the EndSars’ organisers had promised a peaceful protest.
So, if the protest turned violent as a result of the deep state and hoodlums infiltrating the EndSars protest, will such agent provocateurs step aside so that the End-Hunger protest can proceed peacefully for the ten days scheduled? Not likely.
There are extremely strong signs that the characters who wreaked the violence against EndSars will do it again. Government operatives have not only foreseen a violent ending for the planned protest, but they have also given the demonstrators derogatory names, which in itself is not only gaslighting but a bad omen.
What is more, the protest organisers have also decided to go anonymous. Very few people have attempted to put a face on the planned protest by revealing their identities. It is simply unhealthy to organise a protest this big on a national scale in secret, as no one will be accountable. That’s cowardly and dangerous.
First and foremost, it must be recognised that the right to protest is a fundamental component of democracy. However, exercising this democratic right does not grant demonstrators the authority to carry out acts of arson and destruction, much less ones that can result in the loss of lives.
More importantly, there are also other good reasons for the young Igbo people to stay away. In reality, Ndigbo and their enterprises are targeted across the nation, and that’s why Peter Obi is being accused as the protest’s sponsor. Such profiling will provide covers to target Ndigbo and cripple their businesses and jeopardise their stay in other parts of the country. What is more, there is also a version of the protest’s demands listing the immediate release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and restructuring as part of their demands. All these are aimed at tagging the Igbo protest.
Remember that the EndSars protest in particular resulted in the burning of more than 200 cars in an Igbo-owned car dealership in Abuja and at a mechanic/spare parts village also in Abuja. To date, no compensation has been paid for this massive destruction. Therefore, it is necessary and expedient for the Ndigbo to look away this time and let the dead bury their dead.
Furthermore, a few actions taken by the Tinubu administration clearly show an unwavering commitment to a fundamental resetting and restructuring of the country, which is keeping up with the aspirations of the Southeast zone and the Igbo people. A few of these policy changes are the Southeast Development Commission, LG autonomy, the signing of electricity from the exclusive list to the concurrent list, and others.
Ndigbo no doubt are concerned about hunger in the land, but certainly protests that will likely cause greater hardships for them are not ones they should embrace. What is more, Ndigbo experienced worse hunger and deprivation during the war and under successive Nigerian governments, particularly the Buhari government. They are as such familiar with suffering.
For the reason that the Tinubu administration took over such a damaged economy, it was compelled to impose harsh measures, such as the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira. In reality, a lot of these policies require time to settle in, and some require adjustments to function properly.
The protest proposals are already somewhat successful in getting the desired outcome since President Bola Tinubu, himself a notable protester, has acknowledged the problems that have been raised by the protest organisers and requested additional time to fully resolve them. Give him more time then.
*Dr. Law Mefor, an Abuja-based forensic and social psychologist, is a fellow of The Abuja School of Social and Political Sciences and leader of the Igbo Bu Igbo Sociocultural Foundation; Thought: [email protected]; Twitter: @Drlawsonmefor.
