![[OPINION] Issues around planned #EndBadGovernance protest - Sunday Onyemaechi Eze](/media/k2/items/cache/7609a1c38917099a57ed3f1a21649c25_XL.jpg)
A thick cloud of stormy protest is gathering in Nigeria. The compound word “Zanga-Zanga” – referring to the planned 10 days #EndBadGovernance protest slated to commence on August 1, has taken over the media spaces. Surprisingly, the north for reasons yet unknown is angry and at the forefront of efforts to ensure the protest succeeds. It has been observed that some elements in the north who are angry with the government of the day are leading the pack on what seems to be a voyage of vengeful adventure. That notwithstanding, any call for protest now in Nigeria at the moment is in order. Consequently, a group known as Northern Initiative for Growth has written the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun requesting police protection during the nationwide protest.
This time around, the rain will definitely drench both the monkeys and the baboons alike. The sad mood and resolve to protest against bad governance is a direct response to the harsh economic realities currently ravaging the country. It is real, choking and very disturbing. Life has indeed become miserable and unbearable. Citizens are struggling to survive the adverse effects arising from the economic policy thrust of government which has led to hyper-inflation and rising cost of living. It has dawned on everyone that something is absolutely amiss. The nation is heading to a precipice and only the people can save themselves from more pains.
However, there is high level of suspicion, division, skepticism over the intent of the planned protest. Many people from the other parts of the country doubt the sudden good intentions of the north to sincerely initiate a civil disobedience for the general good of Nigerians. Those who understood the north well enough are wary of how selfish they could play politics of religion and of interest. The refusal of the north to join #EndSARS protest meant to confront corruption in the high places and bad government in 2020 is one betrayal still fresh in peoples’ minds. Many seem to be unconcerned or rather watching from a distance as they view the planned protest as a “northern agenda.” After all, the north whole-heartedly supported Muslim/Muslim ticket against character and competence. Almost if not all the Imams preached in favour of the combination for the sake of religion despite the fact that Nigeria is a secular state.
More importantly, they knew Tinubu’s team was not the best for the country. Still they stood by him. Their followers bought into the idea and the result is the disaster at hand. It is therefore surprising that a region which led massive protest against Goodluck Jonathan, became averse to protest during Buhari’s clueless, terrible and horrible eight years reign is currently in support of protest. That the north which patiently bore the burden of hardship in solidarity with their regional Muslim brother is spearheading a protest tagged #Endbadgovernance in Nigeria is quite unusual. The sudden re-awakening for good governance just after one year of Tinubu’s administration is suspicious. In fact, trust the north in this case to your peril. Then in 2027 whenever it comes to making future political choices, other regions will learn the hard way.
The high level of deceit glaringly exhibited by some northern elites and influential Islamic teachers stinks to the high heavens. Many of them who participated in previous protests now behave as handsomely paid minions dispatched to frustrate and discourage this envisaged one. Their utterances and body languages have already given them away to their true intentions. Some Islamic teachers are shamelessly persuading organisers to drop the plan while subtly claiming that protesting against government is now forbidden in Islam. The same north that backed the emergence of Tinubu and blatantly refused to protest against Buhari in October, 2020 cannot in all honesty extricate itself from the bad fate that has befallen all of us.
Tinubu and his associates now in power are serial protesters, who relied heavily on the letters of the constitution to exercise their rights to free assembly. Therefore, employing all manner of subterfuge to frustrate a legitimate action they previously enjoyed before fate moved them to the other side of the divide is hypocritical. The only loud and angry voices advocating for this protest are the northern poor who felt totally betrayed by their religious and political leaders. But how far can they go? Religion is one of the weapons purposely designed to perpetually hold the people captive and weaken their will and determination to effect societal changes. What ordinarily would have made sense in other parts of the world is hard to understand in Nigeria. What would have been a national consensus of convergent views is trivialised and killed with nepotism.
The Presidency has gleefully alleged that the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi is the chief mastermind of the planned nationwide protest. Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, had disclosed that Peter Obi should be blamed if the planned protest spirals out of hand or turns bloody. He stated that “these protest organisers were also behind the violent ENDSARS protest in October 2020. Continuing he said, “what started as a peaceful protest against police brutality was taken over by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who wanted to break away from Nigeria. The same people who supported Obi in 2022 are now spreading messages like “EndBadGovernance,” “Tinubu must go,” and “Revolution2024.” Onanuga, roundly accused the aggrieved supporters of igniting chaos over the failure of their candidate's interest during the 2023 Presidential election.
Why do many respected individuals in Nigeria lose their flavour immediately they land any government appointment? Bayo Onanuga, a fine gentle man and seasoned journalist falls under this obnoxious category of those who have completely lost it. Government of Tinubu is gradually losing track of good governance and should as a matter of fact begin to work on itself. With people like Onanuga leading in front for this government, what awaits in the wings is total anarchy. Those responsible for organising the protest are well known. Why drag Peter Obi and IPOB into an issue they never had a hand in? This ethnic stereotype and profiling against the Igbos by Onanuga and his Yoruba kinsmen is alarming and has to stop immediately.
Onanuga warned that; “trying to remove an elected government is treason.” When has peaceful demonstration by citizens to register their grievances against bad governance under Tinubu or anyone become treason? His position to startle the resolve of the people just like others before him did in an attempt to protect government is not applicable or sustainable anymore. Nobody will stop the collective will of the people from prevailing. Those close to Bayo Onanuga and people in power should as a matter of urgency prevail on them to mute grandstanding and address the challenges which gave rise to the planned protest. For those who think this idea is actually a northern protest and agenda, we all must have a rethink. Are we not all casualties of this government's policy flip-flop? We go to the same markets and buy fuel from the same filling stations. Therefore, this is our collective cross which has to be carried together. It is our onerous responsibility to take back Nigeria from the firm grip of political hawks.
Sunday Onyemaechi Eze is a lecturer, Department of Mass, Communication Coal City University, Enugu