A national protest to demand good governance and a better standard of living led by civil society groups, trade unions and human rights activists is in the offing in Nigeria.
Though Nigerians and successive governments are not alien to such protest, the morbid experiences from the #EndSARS protest that started on October 8, 2020, in the country and the wanton destruction of property and loss of lives in the ongoing protest in Kenya seemed to have opened a new vista in the annals of protests in the Africa continent.
Meanwhile, the groups are not only addressing several issues affecting average Nigeria’s ability to have a decent standard of living, they are also demanding for better accountability and transparency of a government that promised Nigerians Renewed Hope.
With the date of the planned protest against hunger and hardship getting closer (August 1), stakeholders have drummed their opposition against the protest.
Concerned that the protest might take place despite an appeal by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, they cautioned that only proper dialogue and no threat can halt the protest.
Reiterating their advice, they called on President Tinubu to address the organisers of the planned protest, as no threat can halt the protest.
Commenting on the planned national protest, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN) told LEADERSHIP Weekend that only proper dialogue with the organisers of the planned protest, and not threat, will help to halt the planned protest.
According to the human rights lawyer, Falana, threats won’t stop the planned national protest.
Falana said, “While the federal government and security agencies have cautioned against the demonstrations, threats won’t aid the shelving of the protest.
“So, this time around the government should try to identify the leaders of the movement and then engage them, and then the questions be raised. There are demands that are being made, and the government should address these demands.”
Meanwhile, the protesters have declared that if any protester is killed, maimed, or arrested during the protest, they will not back down until President Tinubu and his entire cabinet resigns.
Those planning the protest had demanded fuel price reduction and revert petrol pump price to N100 per litre; that the federal government address the problem of insecurity and hunger.
Others are total implementation of electoral reform and conduct an independent probe into the electoral budget of N355 billion.
They are also clamouring for free Education, that is compulsory free education from primary to secondary school and an education grant at the tertiary level.
Other demands are public school mandates by ensuring that children of all public office holders attend public schools in the country.
Support of local products, that government must patronize made-in-Nigeria goods: Transition to a unicameral legislature; Judicial and Constitutional Reforms: Implement thorough judicial and constitutional reforms: Scraping of the 1999 Constitution and replace it with a people-made constitution through a Sovereign National Conference, followed by a National Referendum.
They are also seeking the abolishment of the senate, saying the House of Representatives be retained to make laws on a part-time basis.
As it concerns education, they want huge investment in education, ensuring free and compulsory education across the country.
As far as they are concerned, the government has no option but to reinstate a corruption-free subsidy regime to reduce hunger, starvation, and poverty.