NIGERIA: MATTERS ARISING

ANGER EQUALS DANGER: The youths of Nigeria are in ‘Anger’. And as ‘Anger’ is only one letter short of ‘Danger’, those who make Nigerians angry may be in ‘Danger’ for, when people are angry, they are dangerous.

Anger is a natural response to threat due to injustice, humiliation or betrayal. When anger is ‘passive’, it is usually characterised by silent hostility and tension, as we tended to have over here, before #ENDSARS. Angry people tend to demand things such as fairness and willingness of the other to do things their way. Everyone wants these things, and we are all hurt and disappointed when we don’t get them, but angry people demand them, and when their demands are not met, their disappointment becomes anger. Sometimes it is our immediate surroundings that give us cause for irritation and fury. Angry people feel they are in a trap, and they can’t escape.

REMEMBERING ARAB SPRING: In the spring of 2011, the Arab World erupted in massive youth protests. Beginning in Tunisia where a young hawker named Bouazizi set himself ablaze due to incessant harassment by security people as he hustled on the streets, most of the Arab World caught fire. By the end of it, most Arab leaders (except the Gulf monarchies guaranteed protection by the West) were overthrown. Not long after, most of those leaders were dead – either killed by their own people assisted by the Western powers, as in the case of Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi; or by stronger factions in the battle for post-Spring power, as in the case of Yemen’s Ali Abdallah Saleh; or by sheer sulking due to loss of power couple by delayed old age, as in the cases of Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Tunisia’s Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Almost a decade after those protests, it seems many Arab leaders have not learnt their lesson – Sudan’s Omar Hassan Al Bashir was a recent significant example.

PRESIDENTIAL TRADERMONI ADDRESS: Our own president is sitting pretty – and tight – on the throne of Aso Rock. With a subject population of 200 million, the president came with an address mentioning his ‘success’ in trader-moni and market-moni and other ‘palliatives’; meaning Nigerian youths should be happy that their poverty has been and is being addressed. Sadly, the matter at hand is anger at the police, anger at unemployment, anger for lack of opportunities, anger for anger’s sake. When other youths became angry, they became armed robbers and kidnappers and bandits and insurgents. We must therefore be grateful for placard-carrying youths who have not – yet – resorted to those violent ways. If we cannot manage the placard-carrying and sloganeering youth, we should fear the time they resort to higher threats.

SPEAKER FEMI’S BUDGET: Is it true that Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said he will not sign off the 2021 budget until a provision for compensation is inserted for victims of police brutality? That’s a very good one – coming from someone from the South West where the bulk of the budgets, past, present and future, are being spent. Many are asking the Right Honourable Speaker whither compensation for victims of insurgency, banditry and kidnapping? But I blame him not. He is representing his own people. He is speaking for them; singing their song. Why aren’t other representatives singing their own songs? Mr. Speaker, go ahead and pad the budget and add whatever you think will placate the youths of Lekki.

WHITHER NORTHERN REPS? Shouldn’t Northern Senators and Representatives have been earlier than the Speaker in declaring their own people’s demands, that they would have nothing to do with the budget, and anything else related to it, until a State-of-Emergency is declared on insecurity in the North, plus asking for substantial funds for the victims of insurgency and banditry and kidnapping. This last one – kidnapping – is gradually impoverishing already impoverished masses in our Arewa. Alas! Our representatives have no idea of their responsibility, but are very aware of their own selfishness.

WHITHER RUBBER BULLETS? Do the Nigerian Police know anything called rubber bullets? Do they know blank bullets? Do they know water cannons? Do they know teargas while wearing their own body protective equipment? If they do, why do they only use live bullets on a bunch of unarmed youths? True, when sloganeering bunch of the frustrated become violent (as in attacking police formations and other government and private property) they must be met with force. But which kind of security system is it that has no training in ‘Miscreant Management’, but would just shoot 17-year old boys point blank? Which training do these cops get, that they can’t shoot at legs and arms, but straight at chests and heads?

WHERE THOSE PALLIATIVES? A video recorded somewhere during the protests in the South West (the State of Osun has been mentioned) showed a warehouse where COVID-19 palliatives were stashed. Protesters broke into the store and looted what they could carry. If this was true, then this was crass injustice and the height of callousness on the part of authorities. If these were found in Kano, I will myself lead a protest. How could anyone stash such valuable and perishable foodstuff when the masses are so hungry?

SEEKING LEKKI BODIES: But actually, were protesters killed in Lekki? Commentators are asking: if there really was a massacre at Lekki Tollgate on Tuesday, where are the bodies? So far, no Lagos family is reporting loss of relatives at Lekki. So was it hype? Was it propaganda? Was it the usual Loud-In-Lagos? Nigeria seems to be the global headquarters for fake news. Every second person with a smartphone is now a journalist, producer, broadcaster of doctored voice and videos.

ANY WAY FORWARD? Every problem may have a solution, and the government’s 774,000 jobs (1,000 per LGA) is a good way forward. Even if we can’t afford it, we must keep youths busy doing SOMETHING, ANYTHING that will give them an earning. Never underestimate angry youths – spring, summer, winter or even fall. Many have fallen!