Beyond the Protests: The Urgent Call to Address Poverty, Hunger, and Governance in Nigeria

Some government supporters and the ruling party loyalists might have rejoiced that they had defeated the organizers of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest. But I tell everybody most solemnly that nobody should rejoice or claim victory over them because the so-called triumph over the protest organizers is not a cause for celebration but should be a source of worry and a warning. The cracks of discontent, fueled by hunger and poverty, that led to the protest have not been resolved. No government wins the war propelled by hunger. It may just be doused for a night; it will resurrect after a while, potentially with even greater force.

We must grasp the urgency of the battle against poverty, illiteracy, disease, and hunger. These issues, perpetuated by decades of poor governance, must be etched in the hearts of our rulers. Only then can we aspire to liberate our people from multidimensional poverty, hunger, and disease. The apparent silence is merely a delay of the inevitable if our leaders do not act promptly and decisively. The time for action is now, as the repercussions of inaction could be severe, leading to more suffering and unrest.

First, the organizers have brought to the fore that once civil disobedience is woven and planned around disease, poverty, and hunger, many of the masses and the vulnerable will see it as a call to duty and expect we all join hands to salvage our country from its battered anatomical and physiological architecture. This metaphor refers to the deep-rooted issues that have affected our society’s structure and function, comparing it to a body in need of healing. The rich might also weep when that tomorrow comes.

Secondly, it revealed the deep gulleys that separated the Northern elites from their southern counterparts. For example, it’s understandable that the #EndSars movement took root mainly in the South because it was a battle against brutality and profiling of a segment of the South’s youth over perceptions and some behaviors, which tended to have been more prevalent in the South. Northern elders in 2020, in turn, urged their people to refrain from getting involved, reflecting their unique concerns and perspectives.

However, in this present protest, northern elders supported the process by riding under the caveat that the people have the right to protest peacefully, which perhaps they thought otherwise in 2020. One can then see the difference between the reactions of the oppressed in the North and their Southern counterparts this time around, as typified by the army of the deprived children on the streets. It is an ominous sign that should be taken seriously as the yardstick of terrible governance has different meanings to different people and regions.

Despite our differences, it’s becoming increasingly evident that hunger, disease, and poverty have the potential to unite us in protest. Nigeria is blessed to have patriotic citizens who long for a brighter future, regardless of how their leaders misuse the commonwealth. This potential for unity in the face of adversity should inspire us all, serving as a potent motivator for change. It’s a beacon of hope in these challenging times, showing that we can come together for a common cause. However, we must not take this unity for granted, as another protest may not be as acceptable.

Now that we know that hunger can be a rallying point, our leaders should seize this opportunity to act urgently and give the people what they deserve. Starting today, we should go beyond throwing rice at people. Let us bring the teeming millions below poverty above the seas of want. In those days, it was an alternative for low-income people to rely on palm nuts, ground nuts, and garri. That delicacy is no longer available to the poorest of the poor because a bottle of groundnut is now N2,500 where I am, and the cost of garri is no longer smiling at anybody.

As I look unto the hills and above for a better year, I say to all, let us be law-abiding, but do not fail to speak against any evil you see happening around you. To keep quiet in the face of tyranny is a support for wickedness.

Grace and peace!!!