Anti-protesters' protest against protesters - an attempt at hijacking

Anti-protesters' protest against protesters - an attempt at hijacking.

There has been serious clamoring for a nationwide protest, scheduled to commence on the first day of August and end on the tenth day of the same month this year. This clamoring by the people has raised serious concerns. The Nigerian Police Force is wary of heightening fears of a violent dimension that may result from the protest, going by the records of the last EndSars protest that resulted in the destruction of lives and properties. 

The call for the hashtag #EndBadGovernance in the country has been motivated by recent demonstrations in Kenya against increased taxes on essentials. The Kenyan protests evolved into broader demands for government reforms, which appears to resonate with many Nigerians facing a challenging cost-of-living crisis, as Nigeria's inflation rate hit 34%, with food inflation over 40%. 

The planned protests aim to address both economic hardships, food insecurity, exorbitant food prices, and dwindling purchasing power. Though reports have it that administration officials labeled the protests as unwarranted and politically motivated, the Inspector General of Police has cautioned against the protests, suggesting they could be used to mastermind violence.

He further mentioned what could be termed as rules of engagement for the intending protest organizers: to identify themselves, assure the security body that there will be no violence, and obtain permission for where and when their demonstrations will be held. Surprisingly, in the course of these demands, groups of unidentified people, who didn't follow all the stipulated demands given by the Inspector General of Police, were seen parading themselves as anti-protest protesters, clamoring for a back down of the #EndBadGovernance protest, which is yet to commence.

This becomes a matter of situational irony - how can a protest be organized suddenly to quell an intended protest? If this is not a case of hijacking, then how can it be described? An anti-protest is a protest and should have been done following the same demands given to the intended protest of #EndBadGovernance. Rather than an anti-protest campaign or attempt to stop the right to protest, authorities should address the challenging issues driving the protests. They should ensure that protests are supervised peacefully by security patrols and people's fundamental rights are respected.

What are your thoughts on this matter? Share your opinion in the comments. 

Daniel Asipita is a historian, opinion writer, and young researcher. Email: danielasipita001@gmail.com

Comments

Adeyemi, Adekunle Alexander said…
We live in a world where the dark is also seen as light.
8/2/24, 4:10 PM

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Emmanuel Itodo: A Voice of Worship

Image
Discover the inspiring story of Emmanuel Itodo — a Nigerian gospel artist, worship minister, and songwriter known for songs like I Worship You, Set My Heart, and his upcoming project Unending Rain. Who Is Emmanuel Itodo?  Emmanuel Itodo, a gospel music minister from Nigeria. Whose music journey began in 2017 with his debut single, “I Worship You,” a heartfelt song that opened doors and introduced him to worshippers across the globe. From his early years, he always had a deep passion for serving God. He prayed continually to fulfil destiny in Him. In 2017, Emmanuel enrolled in a Catholic seminary, hoping to become a priest. But by 2019, God revealed a different plan, one that would allow him to touch lives through the ministry of music. Education and Early Ministrys Emmanuel is a graduate in History and International Studies, a discipline that gave him a broader view of life, culture, and purpose. Understanding how stories shape nations helped him realize that his own story could in...
Read more

Labour Crisis in Nigeria: A Case of Mismatch in Employers Demands and Workers Reality

Image
Observing the Nigeria’s job market, including discussions around leaders like the CEO of Moniepoint, Tosin Eniolorunda, I don’t think the labour problem is simply about “lack of talent” or “unserious job seekers.” To me, it is more of a mismatch between what employers expect and what workers are actually equipped with in the system. From the employer side, the issue often starts with education. Many graduates leave school with certificates but little practical experience. Most learning is theoretical, so when they enter the job market, they still need training to function properly. On top of that, many young people also lack access to tools like laptops, software, and proper learning environments that could help them build real skills. Employers also point to a growing “quick money mindset,” where some job seekers prefer fast success instead of slow career growth. This, combined with frequent job switching for better offers, makes it difficult for companies to train and retain staff....
Read more

"Peaceful Protest": A Difficult Oxymoron to Crack in History

Image
 "Peaceful Protest": A Difficult Oxymoron to Crack in History~ Daniel Asipita It is seldom to find protests that are absolutely peaceful and violence-free in the records of history. Protests recognized as the most peaceful in history had pockets of violence and casualties. In 1930, there was the Salt March, a major non-violent protest in India led by Mahatma Gandhi. It was directed against the British government's tax on salt, which greatly affected the poorest Indians. This protest lasted for two months, March and April of 1930. Gandhi led the demonstration against the repressive salt tax by marching through the western Indian state of Gujarat to the town of Dandi on the Arabian Sea coast. He set out on foot on March 12, accompanied by several dozen followers. After each day's march, the group stopped in a different village along the route, where larger crowds would gather to hear Gandhi rail against the unfairness of the tax on poor people. Hundreds more would join ...
Read more