Protest Too Expensive for Nigeria
By Sani Danaudi Mohammed
While the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recognises the right to protest, this right is not absolute and must be exercised within the limitations established by the federation’s supreme laws.The limitations are intended to ensure that others’ rights are not violated while exercising the right to protest. Therefore, the unfinished negative effects of the Arab Spring ought to serve as a wake-up call for Nigerian youth.
The Arab Spring was a wave of pro-democracy demonstrations and upheavals that began in 2010 and 2011 and upended some of the long-standing regimes in the Middle East and North Africa. Protests in Egypt and Tunisia overthrew their governments in short order, sparking attempts to do the same in other Arab nations, and that is when the wave started.
Notably, there is considerable leeway for expressions and acts that qualify as nonviolent protest under the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. In particular, everyone in Nigeria is entitled by the constitution to the freedoms of expression, assembly, association, and movement. Laws govern all protests, including those in Nigeria, and they must be both necessary and reasonable.
The following factors must now be considered by those planning protests in order for them to properly voice their complaints. By doing this, they must take into account the following objectives: preventing disorder or crime, promoting public safety and national security, and both. safeguarding one’s morals or health. the defence of the liberties and rights of others. Organising a peaceful protest implies that the rights of innocent Nigerians must come first.
Protests have historically been the impetus behind some of the most significant social movements, bringing abuse and injustice to light, calling for responsibility, and encouraging people to hold onto hope for a better future. Regretfully, many of these protests have been ineffective, and many attempts to fight for justice and freedom have resulted in violent deaths. Nigeria is facing a number of complex issues, including unemployment, the economy, and security. The country is at a crossroads.
Nonetheless, citizens’ rights are crucial because, in a democracy, everyone must have a voice. Their needs are to be heard, to feel included in the political process, and to have an impact on decisions. They must, above all, feel involved.Nigerian youth are actively employed by this administration in a variety of roles, including those of minister, heads of agencies, special advisers, and senior special assistants. The rise in youth representation in the State and National Assembly, which set a record since the fourth Republic’s return in 1999, is another noteworthy development.
Considering the potential harm to our economy, whose future depends on the current economic reforms, it has become imperative to bring this to the attention of Nigerian youth. Youth in Nigeria urgently need to recognise themselves as the social engineers and change agents. Under this directive, the President has expanded our administrative authority to support the development of the country. It is not a political discourse that, a substantial number of Nigerian youths are in the forefront of the decision making of the administration of President Tinubu.
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights are two international treaties and declarations that guarantee the right to protest. The state is compelled to assist protest by guaranteeing that demonstrators are safeguarded by the nation’s law enforcement agencies, among other obligations, due to the recognition of this right. Right thinking Nigerians are unable to support another protest due to the detrimental impacts of #Endsars on our economy, despite the fact that the constitution recognises protest as a fundamental human right.
Since they make up the majority of the labour force and are the most populous and dynamic group in the country, Nigerian youths ought to view themselves as the engine propelling national development. The youth population in Nigeria makes up more than 70% of the total population, according to the 2006 census. A country’s development is influenced by its youth population’s quality and readiness to make an active impact. The Federal and State Governments of Nigeria including the members of the National Assembly have recognised the current hardships that Nigerians, particularly the youth, are facing and are making constant efforts to find solutions.
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Though protests have largely influenced the political, social, and cultural climate of the area, they have nearly never been able to propel advancements towards socioeconomic justice and democracy. Protests rarely result in significant, long-lasting change, and when they do, it usually takes a while. For example, half of the population has been displaced and most cities have been damaged or destroyed, making Sudan, Syria, Libya, Iraq, Egypt, and too many other places to name, among the most desolate places on Earth. They have essentially turned much of their countryside into a battlefield. split up into civil conflicts. Yemen’s economy has collapsed along with most of it, but the process of freedom has not been completed.
The crucial query that merits investigation? Following the protest, are the Arab countries doing better? To be honest, just by virtue of the violence, civil wars, and unrest that have transpired since the Arab Spring, the Arab world is in a worse state than it was before. Moreover, things will only get worse should the Nigerian youths mistakenly fall into this evil protest. Because of the political manipulation, these uprisings will keep happening. The Arab world will still have to endure hot times before fully recovering from its illness, much like a body that has to experience fever due to an infection. Nigeria itself was the result of protests spearheaded by brilliant patriots who helped us achieve freedom and independence in 1960.
Now that things are reversed, the plan protest has nothing to do with the separate demonstrations that focused on advancing Nigeria’s independence. These days, certain political interests and anonymous political cartels fund protests in an attempt to further their own nefarious agendas by leveraging Nigerian youth. Through dialogue, we must open their eyes and turn back into partners in transforming Nigeria into a prosperous country. The young people of Nigeria who value peace must withstand all pressures to be used as destructive forces rather than serving as the cornerstone of a prosperous country that will support President Tinubu’s Renew Hope Agenda.
Nigeria is a diverse country manifested by culture, religion, ethnicity, language, climate, occupation, and education. Diversity is usually preached as strength when the country faces ethno-religious crises that threaten its unity and peaceful coexistence. This has eluded Nigeria, where volatility of religious expression has contributed to violent conflicts and killings in the country. It is worthy of note that, prominent Islamic clerics in the North have drawn the attention of the youths on the doctrines of Islam that prohibits protest as “HARAM”. It is interesting to note that, it will not be see the lights of the day in the North due to the sensitivity of religion in Nigeria.
FG’s Initiatives to Reduce Hunger
Mohammed Idris Malagi, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, has done a fantastic job of informing Nigerians about the President’s current actions taken to alleviate the suffering and plight of Nigerians.In an effort to mitigate the effects of the nationwide food shortage, the federal government has announced the immediate shipment of 740 lorry loads of rice to the 36 states that make up the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 150-day window during which food commodities may be imported duty-free as part of increased efforts to combat rising inflation.The Construction and Household Support Programme has been approved, providing a three-month grant of N50,000 to 100,000 families in each state.
Additionally, N155 billion will be used to buy a variety of foods to be distributed throughout the country.Over N1 trillion is estimated to be spent on the N50,000 intended for 3.7 million families throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the N10 billion allotted for CNG buses in each of the 36 states and the FCT, and the N155 billion spent on a variety of foods. The Supreme Court’s historic ruling on the autonomy of local governments attests to the President’s commitment to enhancing the lives and general well-being of citizens at the local level. Discussion are ongoing with the labour Unions to increase the workers pay to meet with the current demands of cost. These are just a few of the president’s numerous actions, and unless something different is decided, this is sufficient to end the protests.
Based on the previously mentioned global protest complexities, such as the ENDSARS, it is safe to conclude that protest is too costly for Nigeria.
Danaudi, writes via [email protected] from Bauchi.
