ON END-SARS: WHAT THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS OUGHT TO PEACEFULLY DEMAND FOR – AND THE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY
October 17, 2020 | News
ON END-SARS: WHAT THE NIGERIAN YOUTHS OUGHT TO PEACEFULLY DEMAND FOR – AND THE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY
With the way the ongoing protests across the country is going, I would strongly advise that the Nigerian Government should make no mistake about what is happening because there is only so much these Nigerian youths can take from those who are supposed to be the custodians of our collective wealth.
It is a natural phenomenon to expect that when a people have been pushed to the wall, and the odds are daily made to be against them and their survival; they would eventually retaliate and violently pour out all their bottled-up anger and aggression against those who have decided to make life miserable for them. Not that we support any form of public aggression, violence of any sort or assault on anyone, but we also have to realize that every human being is born with a ‘natural instinct of survival’. And once they feel their future survival is being threatened by other humans and factors that are beyond their control, the next thing that comes naturally is to retaliate, which often times are exhibited in different violent and non-violent forms. We are already seeing evidence of this across Nigeria, and even abroad, across different platforms. And I fear it can only get worse, if the nation and its players should continue on their current path that has been to the detriment of the younger generation.
Though, the peaceful protests started off with the demand, and call to End-SARS, including the supposedly newly create SWAT also, of the Nigerian Police Force, and I have reiterated the fact that SARS is not really the main problem. There are far more important, rooted and underlining problems adversely affecting the Nigerian people, most of which if adequately addressed, these other issues, including the kind of Police we have, will no longer be an issue. But I am however glad that slowly but steadily, these other pressing issues in the country, are beginning to be attached, and be at the front burners of the ongoing peaceful protests across the country. It is as if the End-SARS peaceful protests have become the window and opening for the Nigerian youths to start pressing for, and demanding that these other pressing issues to be addressed too.
For me however, I would say they should squarely focus on these other pressing issues in the country that urgently needs to be addressed by the Government, which of course should also include a complete reform of the Nigerian Police Force.
In other words, what the Nigerian youths ought to primarily demand for peacefully, should include good governance at all levels of Government. SARS is not the problem. The problem has always been that the Nigerian people, for a very long time, have not been getting the required good leadership from those who occupy the public space at all levels. And sadly, the people have been too quiet and comfortable with it. Perhaps, it is safe to say that the End-SARS peaceful protests, is now becoming a rude ‘reawakening’ for the Nigerian people. I can only pray that the said peaceful protests would be more definite, precise, articulate, sustainably consistent and well-defined in focusing on the real issues until the demands are met; and that the Government of the day at all levels would also heed to the cries of the people and do what is being demanded of them.
One of the major things that should be the focus of the peaceful protests, is the country’s electoral process which actually brings people into Governance. The entire system is flawed, and was made to be against the younger and credible Nigerians that actually have what it takes to govern well. For instance, to be elected a Governor of a State and President in Nigeria, it requires huge resources and ‘connections’, which no youth can provide on their own unless they are being bankrolled by the same corrupt politicians. You can hardly win election in any State without the governors of those States being in the picture. The just concluded Edo and Ondo States Governorship elections are very good examples of this.
Then there is the issue of our system of Government. The country’s Presidential system of government is just insanely costly and not sustainable any longer. What is the essence of the Two Houses at the National Assembly level? All that talk about having “Representations” from the different geopolitical zones of the country has never really helped the Nigerian general masses and the entire nation. All that those who supposedly go there to ‘Represent’ the people, are to “represent-themselves” and their families, close associates and fronts. The cost of governance and the amount of funds daily expended as recurrent expenditure in maintaining the Executive and Legislative arms of Government in Nigeria, is totally unacceptable. In fact, it is the most expensive in any part of the world, and has become the channel through which public funds that would have been invested in providing needed infrastructure, are wasted. This is the bane of Nigeria’s development.
There are just too many idle Government departments across all levels of Government. So much wastages and leakages of our collective funds. After all, the money monthly and yearly used to pay and maintain Nigerian legislators at both the State and national levels, including those at the Executive Arms of Government and the Councils, States and national levels; you would agree that little or nothing will be left to be used for capital expenditure and address the needed development challenges plaguing the entire country. In other words, this Nigerian-styled-Presidential system of government is far too costly, no longer sustainable and cannot create the room needed for the lives of the Nigerian masses to be greatly improved on. Nigeria cannot move forward and achieve the desired development with this skewed Presidential system and the electoral process. Unless we are just deceiving ourselves.
It is high time these Nigerian legislators are made to realize that our nation can no longer take care of, cater for their insatiable huge appetites. There is indeed a compelling need to rethink the form and content of the Nigerian legislature. And it is to be noted that Nigeria national income cannot sustain the gluttony of its lawmakers. A step towards its reform must be backed by the need to reduce legislative reward to merely sitting allowance without a basic salary component and it should be structured to be part-time. As it has been advocated times without number, the country does not need a bicameral legislature. It is a waste of public funds and it should be reorganized or streamlined into just one Chamber. The Senegalese example is there for all to emulate. That country went back to a unicameral legislature to save resources for other compelling development goals. Nigeria can do the same here and the people will be better for it. This should be one of the main focus of the ongoing peaceful protests by the youths.
Is it not sad that today, no graduate youth can get government work on merit, experience and competence? If you are not connected and recommended by a godfather, then forget it. So, what do you expect the Nigerian youths to do? Our Nigerian politicians are simply heartless. The truth must be told. Not one of them, be they Governors, State Legislators, State Commissioners, Senators, House of Representatives members, Ministers, etc., are serious minded people that actually want the good of the common masses. They talk sweet to deceive the ignorant crowds of Nigerians. They are nothing but wicked politicians who do not mean well for the people. It is also sad that majority of the Nigerian youths, upon graduation, are left with no choice but to still live with their parents/guardians, who still feed and cater for them. There is no hope for the Nigerian youths.
Other areas that should be part of the main focus for the peaceful protests demands, which some of the protesters are already clamoring for, include: Reduce petrol pump price and ensure our refineries are working; Reduce electricity tariff and also focus on developing/exploring other alternative sources of power like solar; Aggressively fund infrastructural/capital projects (as against recurrent expenditure) aimed at boosting Nigerians access to basic amenities, which would also add in creating the enabling environment for economic growth and job Creation; Stop banditry and herdsmen attacks in Northern Nigeria; Create the enabling system for inclusive government with 50% youths; End ASUU strike once and for all by addressing the pressing needs in the nation’s tertiary education; Strip ex-governors of all benefits after office; Increase salaries and funding of all security outfits, teachers and doctors/medical and paramedics; Stop external borrowing and account for that which have been borrowed.
While there are indeed too many issues and problems that should be focused and addressed by the Government and the legislature, which we cannot really exhaustively list here, but the bottom line is that, those privileged to be in Government should realize that it should no longer be business as usual. We cannot keep doing the same thing over and over, and be expecting a different result.
Few months ago, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams of Ghana, who is the General Overseer of the Christian Action Faith Ministries, in an interview video online, tried to proffer solutions to the ever-present underdevelopment in countries of West Africa, which include his country Ghana and Nigeria. Archbishop noted that: “… there is a wind coming, and it will begin after 2020, 2021, 2022 and from then on. A situation like the Arab uprising is coming to West Africa, if we don’t do something fast. Look all around us, you will see millions of youths, most of whom have graduated from school with no jobs, always lurking and wandering around looking for every possible means to survive. Which obviously leads them to many vices. Some of them live in kiosks, opposite the houses of the wealthy areas. They know the families of those who have gone into politics and have suddenly become wealthy; driving the best cars, flying the places, living large in mansions, and they are there watching all of this. That is why I am going back to the schools to re-educate them. To engage them.
“The truth is, after a while, if the leaders don’t give these youths hope, and a sense of direction. It will be trouble. The most dangerous thing in life is to fight somebody who has nothing to lose. They don’t have cars, they don’t have children, they don’t have land, they have no hope, and nothing to live for; they don’t mind dying. So, our kind of politics is treading on very dangerous grounds. It is all over Africa. I see it everywhere and it is very worrying…Look at Nigeria, look at Congo DRC, look at the wealth in those countries. But if you go there, it will break your hearts as you look at the level of poverty there, and you ask yourself why? It is because of the way our party politics is structured. This winner takes it all has to stop… When people become desperate, they can do anything. We are sitting on a time bomb, and even the national security cannot do anything when it blows up in our face…”
Zik Gbemre.
October 17, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With the way the ongoing protests across the country is going, I would strongly advise that the Nigerian Government should make no mistake about what is happening because there is only so much these Nigerian youths can take from those who are supposed to be the custodians of our collective wealth.
It is a natural phenomenon to expect that when a people have been pushed to the wall, and the odds are daily made to be against them and their survival; they would eventually retaliate and violently pour out all their bottled-up anger and aggression against those who have decided to make life miserable for them. Not that we support any form of public aggression, violence of any sort or assault on anyone, but we also have to realize that every human being is born with a ‘natural instinct of survival’. And once they feel their future survival is being threatened by other humans and factors that are beyond their control, the next thing that comes naturally is to retaliate, which often times are exhibited in different violent and non-violent forms. We are already seeing evidence of this across Nigeria, and even abroad, across different platforms. And I fear it can only get worse, if the nation and its players should continue on their current path that has been to the detriment of the younger generation.
Though, the peaceful protests started off with the demand, and call to End-SARS, including the supposedly newly create SWAT also, of the Nigerian Police Force, and I have reiterated the fact that SARS is not really the main problem. There are far more important, rooted and underlining problems adversely affecting the Nigerian people, most of which if adequately addressed, these other issues, including the kind of Police we have, will no longer be an issue. But I am however glad that slowly but steadily, these other pressing issues in the country, are beginning to be attached, and be at the front burners of the ongoing peaceful protests across the country. It is as if the End-SARS peaceful protests have become the window and opening for the Nigerian youths to start pressing for, and demanding that these other pressing issues to be addressed too.
For me however, I would say they should squarely focus on these other pressing issues in the country that urgently needs to be addressed by the Government, which of course should also include a complete reform of the Nigerian Police Force.
In other words, what the Nigerian youths ought to primarily demand for peacefully, should include good governance at all levels of Government. SARS is not the problem. The problem has always been that the Nigerian people, for a very long time, have not been getting the required good leadership from those who occupy the public space at all levels. And sadly, the people have been too quiet and comfortable with it. Perhaps, it is safe to say that the End-SARS peaceful protests, is now becoming a rude ‘reawakening’ for the Nigerian people. I can only pray that the said peaceful protests would be more definite, precise, articulate, sustainably consistent and well-defined in focusing on the real issues until the demands are met; and that the Government of the day at all levels would also heed to the cries of the people and do what is being demanded of them.
One of the major things that should be the focus of the peaceful protests, is the country’s electoral process which actually brings people into Governance. The entire system is flawed, and was made to be against the younger and credible Nigerians that actually have what it takes to govern well. For instance, to be elected a Governor of a State and President in Nigeria, it requires huge resources and ‘connections’, which no youth can provide on their own unless they are being bankrolled by the same corrupt politicians. You can hardly win election in any State without the governors of those States being in the picture. The just concluded Edo and Ondo States Governorship elections are very good examples of this.
Then there is the issue of our system of Government. The country’s Presidential system of government is just insanely costly and not sustainable any longer. What is the essence of the Two Houses at the National Assembly level? All that talk about having “Representations” from the different geopolitical zones of the country has never really helped the Nigerian general masses and the entire nation. All that those who supposedly go there to ‘Represent’ the people, are to “represent-themselves” and their families, close associates and fronts. The cost of governance and the amount of funds daily expended as recurrent expenditure in maintaining the Executive and Legislative arms of Government in Nigeria, is totally unacceptable. In fact, it is the most expensive in any part of the world, and has become the channel through which public funds that would have been invested in providing needed infrastructure, are wasted. This is the bane of Nigeria’s development.
There are just too many idle Government departments across all levels of Government. So much wastages and leakages of our collective funds. After all, the money monthly and yearly used to pay and maintain Nigerian legislators at both the State and national levels, including those at the Executive Arms of Government and the Councils, States and national levels; you would agree that little or nothing will be left to be used for capital expenditure and address the needed development challenges plaguing the entire country. In other words, this Nigerian-styled-Presidential system of government is far too costly, no longer sustainable and cannot create the room needed for the lives of the Nigerian masses to be greatly improved on. Nigeria cannot move forward and achieve the desired development with this skewed Presidential system and the electoral process. Unless we are just deceiving ourselves.
It is high time these Nigerian legislators are made to realize that our nation can no longer take care of, cater for their insatiable huge appetites. There is indeed a compelling need to rethink the form and content of the Nigerian legislature. And it is to be noted that Nigeria national income cannot sustain the gluttony of its lawmakers. A step towards its reform must be backed by the need to reduce legislative reward to merely sitting allowance without a basic salary component and it should be structured to be part-time. As it has been advocated times without number, the country does not need a bicameral legislature. It is a waste of public funds and it should be reorganized or streamlined into just one Chamber. The Senegalese example is there for all to emulate. That country went back to a unicameral legislature to save resources for other compelling development goals. Nigeria can do the same here and the people will be better for it. This should be one of the main focus of the ongoing peaceful protests by the youths.
Is it not sad that today, no graduate youth can get government work on merit, experience and competence? If you are not connected and recommended by a godfather, then forget it. So, what do you expect the Nigerian youths to do? Our Nigerian politicians are simply heartless. The truth must be told. Not one of them, be they Governors, State Legislators, State Commissioners, Senators, House of Representatives members, Ministers, etc., are serious minded people that actually want the good of the common masses. They talk sweet to deceive the ignorant crowds of Nigerians. They are nothing but wicked politicians who do not mean well for the people. It is also sad that majority of the Nigerian youths, upon graduation, are left with no choice but to still live with their parents/guardians, who still feed and cater for them. There is no hope for the Nigerian youths.
Other areas that should be part of the main focus for the peaceful protests demands, which some of the protesters are already clamoring for, include: Reduce petrol pump price and ensure our refineries are working; Reduce electricity tariff and also focus on developing/exploring other alternative sources of power like solar; Aggressively fund infrastructural/capital projects (as against recurrent expenditure) aimed at boosting Nigerians access to basic amenities, which would also add in creating the enabling environment for economic growth and job Creation; Stop banditry and herdsmen attacks in Northern Nigeria; Create the enabling system for inclusive government with 50% youths; End ASUU strike once and for all by addressing the pressing needs in the nation’s tertiary education; Strip ex-governors of all benefits after office; Increase salaries and funding of all security outfits, teachers and doctors/medical and paramedics; Stop external borrowing and account for that which have been borrowed.
While there are indeed too many issues and problems that should be focused and addressed by the Government and the legislature, which we cannot really exhaustively list here, but the bottom line is that, those privileged to be in Government should realize that it should no longer be business as usual. We cannot keep doing the same thing over and over, and be expecting a different result.
Few months ago, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams of Ghana, who is the General Overseer of the Christian Action Faith Ministries, in an interview video online, tried to proffer solutions to the ever-present underdevelopment in countries of West Africa, which include his country Ghana and Nigeria. Archbishop noted that: “… there is a wind coming, and it will begin after 2020, 2021, 2022 and from then on. A situation like the Arab uprising is coming to West Africa, if we don’t do something fast. Look all around us, you will see millions of youths, most of whom have graduated from school with no jobs, always lurking and wandering around looking for every possible means to survive. Which obviously leads them to many vices. Some of them live in kiosks, opposite the houses of the wealthy areas. They know the families of those who have gone into politics and have suddenly become wealthy; driving the best cars, flying the places, living large in mansions, and they are there watching all of this. That is why I am going back to the schools to re-educate them. To engage them.
“The truth is, after a while, if the leaders don’t give these youths hope, and a sense of direction. It will be trouble. The most dangerous thing in life is to fight somebody who has nothing to lose. They don’t have cars, they don’t have children, they don’t have land, they have no hope, and nothing to live for; they don’t mind dying. So, our kind of politics is treading on very dangerous grounds. It is all over Africa. I see it everywhere and it is very worrying…Look at Nigeria, look at Congo DRC, look at the wealth in those countries. But if you go there, it will break your hearts as you look at the level of poverty there, and you ask yourself why? It is because of the way our party politics is structured. This winner takes it all has to stop… When people become desperate, they can do anything. We are sitting on a time bomb, and even the national security cannot do anything when it blows up in our face…”
Zik Gbemre.
October 17, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes