The Looming Protests of 2024: A Test for BAT’s Leadership and Nigeria’s Future
The way BAT’s government handles the impending protests, whether they happen or not, beginning August 1, 2024, will be a pivotal factor in shaping Nigeria’s future.
As someone who has been part of numerous coordinated demonstrations organized by the APC and other organizations in the past, especially the one in 2012 that eventually led to the downfall of GEJ’s administration, I anticipate BAT will support Nigerians to voice their concerns about the current hardships, as long as the protests remain peaceful. It should not be lost on BAT that the 2012 operation that shut down Nigeria was a turning point that paved the way for his rise to Aso Rock. Therefore, these potential protests must be managed effectively to preserve peace and order in Nigeria. Intimidation of protesters by government agents will not help the situation and will result in no plausible solution.
When the #EndSars began, it was peaceful until some elements acting on behalf of the government brought in buses to attack the protesters at Abuja and propelled some people to start burning the cars and properties of non-indigenes of Abuja. It is crucial that the government has learned from this and will never use silent agents to confront peaceful protesters again.
Considering BAT’s experience as a governor handling protests and his past actions in NADECO and the APC is crucial. In November 2014, the then All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant and former Head of State Gen.Muhammadu Buhari, the APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, and Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi led thousands of party supporters to protest against the Federal Government of Nigeria led by President Ebele Jonathan. The demonstration was tagged “Salvation Rally.” During the rally, the organizers said they were calling the world’s attention to Nigeria’s insecurity and other misgovernance issues.
During the APC’s coordinated demonstrations beginning in 2012, none of the APC leaders who participated in those protests were harassed or arrested, which should guide BAT’s strategy. Therefore, BAT’s administration should never contemplate arresting political foes or the organizers of tomorrow’s protest because doing so would cause BAT some discomfort. Every president faces protests, and this government wouldn’t be the first or last to face demonstrations. This is a small dose of whatever goes around comes around.
Nigeria weathered the storm of the 2012 Occupy Nigeria protest and the 2014 mega rally led by Buhari. It will also emerge from this phase. The eventual outcome, however, will depend mainly on whether the protesters maintain peace as they progress from one level to the other and the government’s reactions.
We cannot protest hunger and then start looting markets, supermarkets, and other structures that we need for our welfare after the protest. Protesters should not allow people to infiltrate their ranks to commit arson because when protesters destroy government and bank properties, the government will use the taxpayers’ money to build new structures or repair those destroyed. The banks will also find a way to take their depositors’ money for such repairs. When they do, we have again empowered them to steal from us because the actors thrive in it.
Grace and peace!!!