THE NEED TO PROTEST.

Some folks want to protest against the government which is their right but they are angry that others are opposed to it and will not be joining in.

I have read through a few posts and comments on social media by supporters and prospective participants of the protest. There has been severe abuse directed at perceived and outspoken opponents of the protest and some have accused the government of intolerance and are sure that they will be an inevitable clampdown on the protesters.

But why are they angry? Some are angry because they imagine that all those not joining in the protest are paid by the government and were very vocal during the major protests which rocked President Jonathan's tenure. A quick assessment of some prominent backers of this coming protest reveals that a number of them were vocal and active against Jonathan and are still convinced to get unto the streets this time around. I really find it difficult to understand if indeed everyone not in support of the protest has been paid by the government or the APC.

Some people are angry that one of the faces of the protest Innocent Tuface Idibia has been abused or discredited by the government and its supporters. Is the government actually that bothered about Tuface to attack his personal life, literacy or his association with certain politicians? One university lecturer was reported to have hit Tuface below the belt on these issues; I'm not sure if he was paid by the government to post what he did. I have read posts on social media made by those angry that Tuface got goodies from a former governor on the occasion of his wedding. I'm not sure everyone talking about Tuface and Prado SUVs is doing so because they love president Buhari.

We have a very judgmental society and the fact that Tuface has had several affairs is enough reason for some Nigerians to mock anything he does. Many in this current administration no doubt have complicated family and sexual histories, it doesn't sound like attacking Tuface for his other room activities is a path they would have ventured on.

Another item people are angry at is the plan by another group to campaign on the same day in solidarity with the president. They say it's the presidency bankrolling them which is a possibility but when the organizers of the Tuface protest are accused of being sponsored by opposition party elements and cynics, it becomes a problem.

Femi Adesina gave his opinion about the protest and suggested that those organizing it were most likely still stuck in their direction loss, perpetual cynics or impatient supporters of the president. Many have expressed their displeasure and anger at these descriptions but I see those who have propagated falsehood about the president's demise and those who actively campaigned for his election in 2015 singing the same chorus regarding this protest.

The main argument is that Nigerians are suffering, dying and absolutely nothing has been done since May 29th 2015 so those not interested in protest marches at this time are evil and cowards. I don't think it's necessary to reel out what the current administration has achieved because it won't make sense to certain Nigerians. It is these same Nigerians who readily condemned the government when it made moves on certain Nigerians and the judiciary. When we ask them what they really want regarding Nigeria, they are incoherent and indecisive many times.

Tuface and anyone who is convinced to protest are free to do so. They are free to parley with any politician or governor owing salaries and pensions to protest the difficulties in the country. My only concern is that most of those very vocal from their keyboards and keypads will not turn up for these protests. Nigerians who turned out to shut the country down for a few days during the fuel subsidy protests didn't do so because they were paid or because free food, drinks, music and free T-shirts were provided. If the coming protests take such dimensions, then I'd be convinced that Nigerians are generally very dissatisfied. Like the many that didn't support that fuel subsidy protest utilized their freewill, those not keen on protesting now should be allowed to exercise theirs.

I hope the protests will get to the state governors who are not doing enough, towns and villages in Nigeria's northeast should also get covered by the protesters. I hope the protests go smoothly and those already downloading images of dead people from the internet to hijack the protests should keep at it.

Tuface, PMAN, Nollywood, NANS, IPOB, Fayose and Wike have every right to protest just like every Nigerian has the same right. When doctors and lectures protest and go on strike, Nigerians are generally nonchalant so it is not expected that all Nigerians currently getting pummeled by our harsh economic realities of ought to buy into the idea of protests against the government, perhaps not at this time.

The protests should go ahead but it should not be used as an excuse by some to cause havoc or invade Aso Rock. Whatever the lead protesters do, they should ensure that the Nigerian labour Congress or the Trade union Congress do not get front row seats not to talk of controlling the gears. And please, leave Tu-baba's family out of his politics. There are actually those who mock President Trump for his wife's past modeling career but are in strong defense of Tuface. Let's curtail our hypocrisy too.

 

2Face