In the Yoruba culture, there’s a saying that reflects the title of this write-up: patience is never excessive, but it can indeed be insufficient. This adage highlights the importance of patience, especially in the face of adversity. Remember, patience is a virtue that can lead us to a better future.
The protests that erupted on Thursday, August 1, 2024, were triggered by a lack of patience among Nigerians. The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been tirelessly working to alleviate the sufferings inflicted by decades of ineffective governance. Previous administrations were often paralysed by fear of public backlash and failed to take decisive action. As a result, many Nigerians, having endured years of impoverishment, have lost trust and may not fully grasp the genuine intentions of the current government to uplift the downtrodden.
As the Chief Host of The Renewed Hope Global Virtual Town Hall Conference, I addressed the nation on July 20, 2024, pleading for calm. I warned of the potential for the protests to escalate into violence, resulting in the tragic loss of lives and property, and urged a path of dialogue instead, a path that could lead to significant positive change.
On July 27, 2024, we held a three-hour conference with the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. Kayode Egbetokun NPM, through his representative, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi. The PPRO appealed against the planned protest, explaining why it was not a viable option. He emphasised that the doors to dialogue were open, both with the IGP and the Tinubu administration, to address the grievances of the protesters.
To be clear, no one is denying the protesters their right to express themselves. However, exercising the right to protest must not infringe on the rights of others who oppose it. Both sides have equal rights under the law and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Sections 40 and 41, which concern the right to peaceful assembly and association and the right to freedom of movement, apply to everyone, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.
Those of us opposed to the protest are guided by history, which teaches us that protests are rarely peaceful. The EndSARS debacle of 2020 is a case in point. We fear that the protest may be hijacked by unscrupulous elements with ulterior motives, a concern that has already manifested in recent days of chaos. This potential for violence should serve as a stark reminder of the need for caution and restraint.
As concerned citizens, we have highlighted the tough yet necessary policy decisions and programs implemented by this administration over the past year. These initiatives, which we believe are steps in the right direction, are designed to propel the country and its economy toward prosperity. The protest risks derailing this progress.
Key policies include:
Youth Empowerment – The administration has given significant representation to youth, a first in a long while, and established the N110 billion National Youth Investment Fund to drive economic growth.
Education Access—The signing of the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024, aims to improve the management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and enhance access to higher education.
Regional Development – Development Commissions have been created in the Niger Delta, South East, North West, and other regions to spur localised growth.
Fiscal Reforms – The administration has reduced the debt servicing to revenue ratio from 97% to 68%, and the Ways and Means advances have been cut from N27 trillion to N16 trillion. Additionally, the backlog of $7 billion in foreign exchange has been cleared within 12 months.
Minimum Wage and Autonomy – A recent minimum wage increase and financial autonomy granted to local governments by the Supreme Court at the president’s behest are clear indicators of progress toward economic recovery.
These policies are in their gestation period, requiring our patience and support as patriotic citizens to allow the government time to restore economic stability.
Regrettably, all our entreaties to the protesters and their sponsors fell on deaf ears, leading to significant damage to the country and its people.
It is noteworthy that some supposedly learned individuals, who initially ignored our pleas and encouraged the protests despite historical warnings of inevitable violence, are now reconsidering their stance. An influencer who once championed the protest is now ironically calling for a state of emergency after the needless bloodshed and destruction of property and businesses he helped orchestrate.
It is disheartening to see that many educated citizens who claimed to be speaking truth to power and attacked those of us advocating against the protest have now gone silent after realising the folly of their viewpoint.
The question remains – how do we pacify those who have lost businesses or loved ones due to the needless protests? In the words of a popular Yoruba saying, “How do you begin to pacify a bereaved person whose mother was devoured by a hyena?”
If the protest is genuinely about hunger in the land, how does one account for the placards displayed by some protesters, such as one written in Hausa stating, “We want a reduction in the price of weed,” or another by a woman lamenting, “Na because of bad govt I never see husband at 37 yrs.”? What do these messages have to do with hunger? The display of foreign flags during the protest further casts doubt on the protesters’ intentions.
The grim reality lost on the protesters, and their faceless backers are that the cost of repairing the damage to public infrastructure will ultimately fall on the very masses they claim to represent.
I sincerely hope and pray that the President’s address to the nation will help ease tensions among the protesters and their backers, who now have a civic duty to guide them back from the streets toward dialogue.
Nigeria is too precious to be sacrificed on the altar of grievances, no matter how valid they may seem. If we continue on this path of destruction, driven by our grievances, no one will emerge unscathed, including the protesters and their backers.
Now is the time to heed the call: “Back to thy tent, O Israel.” A word, they say, is enough for the wise.
#LeaveTheStreet
#StopTheProtest
#NigeriaMustSurvive
#DialogueIsTheOnlyWay
Signed:
Joseph Kolawole Adebola, MNIM; MCICN
Chief Host
The Renewed Hope Global Virtual Town Conference.
