On August 1, 2024, millions of aggrieved Nigerians hit the streets across the country to protest the rising cost of living and economic hardship occasioned by the harsh economic policies introduced by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
After spending a year in anguish, the “Take It Back Movement” mobilized the Angry Nigerians, populated by the youth, and declared 10-day nationwide protest to demand for the reversal of the policies.
From the streets of Lagos to Abuja, from Kaduna to Kano, from Jigawa to Borno, from Nasarawa to Jos, and others, the protest has been raging; claiming the lives of the protesters, and shutting down businesses and other social activities.
Unfortunately, the Take It Back Movement that has Femi Falana (SAN), Ebun-Otu Adegboruwa (SAN) and other notable members, has not been able to put forward a well-articulated demand to dialogue with the Federal Government.
By this time, one thought that some of the concerns of the protesters flying all over the social media would have been harvested by the organisers of the protest and presented to President Tinubu for consideration and speedy implementation, but that has not been done.
This is in contrast to the #EndSARS Protest. The organisers of the #EndSARS protest were not faceless, and their demands were clearly articulated and submitted even before the protest began.
Few days into the #EndSARS protest, on October 11, 2020 precisely, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) announced the dissolution of the unit which was widely seen as a triumph for the demonstrators.
Prior to this #HungerProtest, however, the Federal Government urged the organisers to shelve the protest, and embrace dialogue.
It said, even though it was the democratic right of every Nigerian to engage in peaceful protest, it could have undesirable outcomes.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris who made the call for dialogue said, the government was not opposed to peaceful protest, but violent protest, saying that there is a likelihood that the protest may be hijacked by unscrupulous elements to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens.
He said, “We know that people are saying that there is no intention for violence in this, but our history has shown that there’s the possibility that this protest can be hijacked and could turn violent”.
When the federal government’s call to shelve the protest was rejected, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero advised President Tinubu to invite the leaders of the group and dialogue with them.
According to him, millions of Nigerians have had it tough since Tinubu was sworn into office on May 29,2023, noting that “a situation where most Nigerian families are forced to eat one miserable meal a day and eating from the dustbin is now seen as a luxury beckons for serious intervention by the government”.
He said, “Corroborating a recent country living standards index assessment by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which established that about 133 million Nigerians live below extreme poverty lines, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) posits that in the first three quarters of 2024, about 32 million Nigerians will have been exposed to acute hunger.
“All that the hurting citizens demand from their government is a listening ear and an empathetic heart. Maybe that is what the organisers of the protest are looking for, given their continued notices on different social media platforms”, he said.
Expectedly, President Tinubu on Sunday, August 4, 2024, in a national broadcast, ordered the suspension of the nationwide protest to create room for dialogue with the organisers.
“My dear Nigerians, especially our youth, I have heard you loud and clear. I understand the pain and frustration that drive these protests, and I want to assure you that our government is committed to listening and addressing the concerns of our citizens.
“But we must not let violence and destruction tear our nation apart. We must work together to build a brighter future, where every Nigerian can live with dignity and prosperity”, he said.
His decision was premised on “the loss of lives in Borno, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna and other states, the destruction of public facilities in some states, and the wanton looting of supermarkets and shops, contrary to the promise of protest organisers that the protest would be peaceful across the country”.
According to him, “the destruction of properties sets us back as a nation, as scarce resources will be again used to restore them”.
While commiserating with the families and relations of those who have died in the protests, Tinubu says, “we must stop further bloodshed, violence and destruction”, adding that “as President of this country, I must ensure public order. In line with my constitutional oath to protect the lives and property of every citizen, our government will not stand idly by and allow a few with a clear political agenda to tear this nation apart”.
Now that the President is ready to listen and dialogue, who will answer the call since the organisers are all faceless? Secondly, if Nigerians protest for 10 days without dialoguing with the government, what have we achieved from the protest as citizens?
Sunday Etuka is the Editor/Publisher of TheFact Daily/Magazine. He can be reached on etuka2012@gmail.com
