All the reasons why Nigerians should be part of the #RevolutionNow protest

Revolution Now

October 1, 1960, highlights more than just independence from colonial demonisation to a majority of Nigerians. It has now evolved into hypocritic celebrations of Nigeria’s ‘oneness’; not forgetting how it has become a time when Nigerians have discussions around failed leaderships and the need for Nigeria to live up to its nomenclature: Giant of Africa.

Part of the conversations centre the forced extremely toxic marriage between old politicians who have sworn to hold Nigeria to ransom (and resist the urge to create favourable environment for all citizens) and citizens who basically have nowhere to run to.

Indeed, Nigerians are weary, asking for good and progressive leadership, and systems that actually work. It is the 60th year of Nigeria’s independence from well-known subjugation and politicians still sell the ‘I will build bridges and provide pipe-borne water’ narrative – subjugation in another form, you will say.

But, come October 1, 2020, Nigerians are again planning to remind the government on the very many things they have failed at. On social media, the #RevolutionNow and #October1stProtest movement is calling on Nigerians to take up the mantle and protest (once again) against irresponsible leadership.

The #RevolutionNow protest has gone on for a while now – on social media and by splinter groups in different states. It is the same thing – ‘we cannot continue living with failed promises and deceitful politicians’. Talk about unemployment, mentally and physically draining infrastructure, failed government systems…it is a non-exhaustive list.

However, we know how opposition comes with anti-government protests these days. See this conversation on Twitter:

Aside that, a physical protest has been scheduled to hold on Nigeria’s said independence day and social media has been heated up again. Maybe, organised labour has killed the zeal, but some other groups are going on with it, arguing that the hike in electricity prices and fuel are not the only reasons for the protest.

 

 

Here are a few things that the protest is said to seek answers for.

Poverty: Nigeria is currently the country with the highest level of poverty globally. A 2018 report by World Poverty Clock (WPC) tagged Nigeria as the world poverty capital. The report has stipulated that about 86.9 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty, a number that surpassed India who has held the position for long. Two years ago and there is a standard reason to believe that the number has gone up.

Corruption: Corruption is an old-age song that many Nigerians know too well. Where almost everyone is corrupt, Nigerian leaders seem to be the masters at this orchestral band. Corruption exists so politicians can continue to feed off it and keep a failed united Nigeria at bay. And when Major-General Muhammadu Buhari assumed office, it was believed that corruption will reduce to its barest minimum, but here we are.

Unemployment: Unemployment and poverty are inseparable – include underemployment – and is most apparent among the younger population. With many unemployed young people also comes the increase rate in crime.

Infrastructure: The lack of infrastructure is a bigger topic than the focus of this article.

If you said Nigerians are tired of demanding responsible leadership is under-flogging the struggle Nigerians have to go through every other day. The smiles hide most of it.

Depending on how you look at it, though 2023 is around the corner the truth is, we need not wait for an election for us to expect change. A revolution is indeed long overdue.

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