Beyond the protest – Part 2

The second point is the need to oil government relations whereby protesters are not seen as enemies of the state that must be hounded, maimed, arrested or even killed. In Rivers State, the governor visited the protest ground to address the protesters, thus creating a sense of belonging, which should have been done in Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Abuja and other locations where the protests took place.

In particular, the various authorities that approached the courts to restrict the protests to certain locations missed the opportunity of engaging the protesters in those locations.

I had expected that the governors of the states and the FCT Minister who got these court orders should have made themselves available in those locations where they wanted the protesters to gather, in order to engage them constructively.

To ignore the protesters totally is to give the wrong impression that the authorities were not concerned with their agitations or that they were not entitled to the exercise of their fundamental rights. I believe that this was one of the reasons why the protesters rejected the speech of the President as belated; it did not address the real issues raised by the protesters, providing fuel for future protests.

I then ask the question: what truly is the assignment of the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Labour if they cannot intervene at times like this to facilitate dialogue with Nigerians who are aggrieved with the policies of the government that they serve? Sufficient notices were issued by the protesters so the government had enough time to engage them to discuss the issues raised, no matter how flimsy the government views them.

To develop a thick skin against any and all opposition should not be the policy of any government elected by the people. It is only a dictator who forces his way into power that would dare the anger of citizens or turn a blind eye when there is mass outcry against the policies of the government. The President himself having staged many protests in the past when he was in the opposition, he should not lead a government that is averse to criticism or civil protests.

The other aspect is that of positive use of information and education. The point to make is that the law guarantees the right to freedom of expression and lawful assembly, being universal rights considered and accepted as basic to human existence. Destruction, violence and anarchy are however criminal offences that are punishable by law.

The error of always mixing this together for the purpose of stopping the lawful exercise of civil actions by the citizens has always backfired. In this case, it was the government itself that assisted in propagating the protests amongst the citizens, through mindless blackmail and tactless propaganda. What this does is to scare away citizens who have the genuine intention to participate peacefully.

As it happened in Plateau, Osun and Lagos States, when peaceful protesters outnumber the few who harbour criminal intentions, the latter would always bow to the dictates of the former. In Plateau State in particular, popular clergymen and women trooped out to lead the protests while preaching the message of peace and harmony such that it was not possible for criminals to break their rank.

Now the protests are over and the question is: what next? Let the government set up a committee of eminent persons across the nation to examine the issues. Are people suffering? Yes. Are the policies of the government helping to reduce the pains and pangs of hunger and poverty?

No. Will there be further protests if the hunger and pains continue? Yes. This requires no rocket science to figure out. As far as the Constitution stipulates that the primary purpose of any government shall be security and welfare of the people, any economic policy that impoverishes the people should be re-examined.

Concluded.

Adegboruwa is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).