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If you are wondering what led to this determination and agitation from the youths in the last couple of days, you don’t need to search for answers tirelessly, it’s right next to you. The protest is inspired by the invention of President Muhammadu Buhari’s approach in handling national issues and crisis. This invention is worthy of enshrinement in our higher institution’s curriculum especially those studying Business Administration.
In our national history, no approach has ever solved our problem like that of Mr President – the management by silence technique of our awe-inspiring leader is worthy of emulation and if possible, should be sustained. That, the best approach to burning issues are inactions, silence and looking the other way until they become a crisis.
For me, I will always pick a united Nigeria above all interest. The reason why we are here as a nation is because our leaders pick power above our future. For decades, Nigeria remains a potential despite having men of talents in the realm of affairs. There must be “juju” in Aso rock – if not, why is it that nearly everyone that occupied there lose focus once they gained power?
For a man we thought belonged to all now sees our problems as immaterial. This is wrong as the MBS approach led us to this stage. It is evident in the apology tweet of the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo, their inactions led to these.
Though the kind of revolution we are seeking for as youths are difficult to manifest without all-round support, the SARS issue is the battle of the South as our Northern brothers are not keeping quiet nor speaking loud – and it is understandable. The insubordination and excrescences of F-SARS are dominantly in the South.
It is very clear the operations of SARS officers transcended their jurisdiction and became nuisance and terrors in the society. The several victims accounts of their ugly experiences with SARS officials are undisputable. My personal encounter with them twice was terrible. This is not about looks, this is not about cyber-crime, this is not about dreads, dressing or tattoo, it’s about misuse of state force: A matter that threatens our collective existence as people of Nigeria.
The protest lacks structure but had such fantastic coordination. However, there is a need for a structure, because once government change tactics, the battle may be lost. The place we need to take our battles to also include the National Assembly. Not only do they earn more than our destiny can afford, but we also need legislation that will sustain the reforms that are needed to, not only make this country walk, but make speedy progress.
We must convert our expectations to goals via planning and coordination. What makes Nigeria great is not the name, landmass or our irresponsible leaders but its talented people even though many of us have been reduced to wasted talents due to collapse of social, infrastructural and institutional structures.
Nigeria does not belong to us alone; it also belongs to the future generations, and like Aisha Yesufu pontificated, we can’t become slaves or be treated as foreigners in our land. In St. Augustine’s sentiment, he believes the past is nothing but present memory and the future is nothing than present expectation – we must share in that sentiment. This government lacks foresight and it failed to decode the anger of the youths before it snowballed into unmanageable protests.
The resentments have been piling up for long especially in the face of growing pandemic and economic hardship. Universities have been shut because ASUU has been on strike for months and a serious government that expects people to appreciate its goodwill is stealing months that can never be compensated from the students. The problem in our tertiary institutions is not ASUU but government. The propaganda deployed against the body is getting stale. If anybody thinks the protesters are lazy, jobless or redundant, then it is shame on the failed generation of leaders.
The greatest asset of this nation is not oil but the youths. Hence, a country with vision would have rolled out policies that will tap into these potentials to build a stable economy. Every action of this government insults our sensibility as people of the most populous black nation in the world. Some fanatics embarked on psychological exile in which intellect served no purpose at all until the situation exploded. From the unseen palliatives during the early stage of the pandemic to the unconcluded NDDC probe where billions went missing, to banditry, killings and kidnappings in the North and till this moment, no single approach has won the battle for FG.
I will not be shocked if APC or PDP wins again in 2023, nobody has the right to get shocked about issues except our President. However, an average American knows the philosophy of the Republicans and Democrats Party and despite ideological differences, they know every step is in the interest of United States, what is the philosophy of APC and PDP – and whose interest does it serve?
Ishowo, Isiaq Oluwatosin can be reached via email: tosinsihowo2015@gmail.com
Twitter: @Tosinishowo
