Labaran Saleh: Are These Mass Protests Really Genuine? #BringBackOurGirls

It is not out of place for anyone to feel bad or terrible about the rising security challenges in the country. Undoubtedly, most Nigerians are sick and tired of the current state of things in the country. You need not conduct an opinion poll to determine whether Nigerians are happy or sad about what has become of their dear country Nigeria. Nigerians are not happy. What we are currently witnessing is alien to us. Terrorism has never been part of us. We are peaceful, wonderful and amazingly loving people. Nigeria is God’s country and land.  Without doubts, this phase of life shall soon become history. Nigeria and Nigerians shall soon heave a sigh of relief.

If peaceful protests are all Nigeria require to tackle its socio-economic challenges, we would have long being standing shoulder to shoulder with the United States of America, in terms of meaningful development. Ever since the popular nationwide fuel subsidy protest of January 2012, Nigerians have since adopted street protest as a tool with which they register their displeasure. Street protest has become fashionable all over the world. Citizens are more at home and comfortable hitting the streets to challenge government’s unpopular and obnoxious policies than resorting to taking up arms against the state.

But while we hit the streets daily to protest rising security and socio-economic challenges in the country, it is instructive we analyze these protests dispassionately and in the interest of the country. That groups, under different names and affiliations converge and move around with placards bearing different inscriptions doesn’t imply that they all want the best for Nigeria. What we all need to ask and know is who those behind these street protests? And what are their missions? Are their actions aimed at putting Nigeria on the path of progress in all spheres of life? We really need to ask serious questions and equally demand sincere answers from these elements parading our streets daily. This is not to rule out the fact that amongst these protesters one can find credible and patriotic groups partnering with government to find solutions to our challenges. Definitely, a few of them hit the streets with good intentions.

We truly don’t require the services of either a soothsayer or seer to unravel the groups, individuals or platforms funding some of these protesters to promote their selfish and narrow interests. They don’t mean well for the country. All they pray and expect is to see the country to go up in flames. Though they come out daily, mount the rostrum, sponsor articles and opinions in national dailies, professing their love for the country, but their secret actions betray all that. We must see them as our common enemies. The question is, do they really want the best for us as nation and people? The answer is not far-fetched. These protests are not in the interest of victims of terrorism in the north east and other parts of Nigeria. No one in his or her right senses would feel normal about the state of things in our country today. Even those in power whose responsibility it is to guarantee security of life and property of Nigerians are not happy at all. They feel the pains and anguish of Nigerians, especially those that have lost loved ones in separate bomb attacks.

While I won’t make haste to condemn those hired to embark on phantom or arranged protests in Abuja and other major cities across the country, I won’t hesitate to call them hypocrites, inhuman and callous for choosing to remain silent and pretended as if all was well when students were killed in their sleep in Buni Yadi in Yobe, villagers were murdered in their sleep in Zamfara, farmers were killed in Katsina, 20 girls abducted in Borno, hundreds killed in separate bomb attacks in Kano, Kaduna, Zaria and recently Abuja. Though I strongly condemn the abduction of these innocent school girls totaling 234 by the Boko Haram group, but it appears some persons are out to make political gains out this very serious issue. Same personalities who have been quiet when thousands were sent to early graves have suddenly found their voices. They want to portray the ruling government in bad light all because they want to grab power.

While these protests are ongoing, Nigerians shouldn’t allow anyone with ulterior or sinister motives fool them even for a second. We all know real, genuine and credible protest when we see one. An appreciable percentage of what we read about in the press and watch on national and private TV channels are stage-managed protests aimed at promoting narrow interests. Interestingly, informed Nigerians have instantly rejected this dummy. It is a grand plot to give this current government bad name. Granted, Nigeria is faced with serious security task, but the solutions to the challenges are not in frustrating government’s effort through unnecessary distractions.

As a northerner, I feel pained that my entire region has lost everything to terrorism and crises. Regrettably, our elites in this region are not helping issues at all. We have suddenly become refugees in our own land. Foreigners in our country feel more at home than most persons in the north. This is an aberration. We cannot continue this way. This is where I expect respected and concerned northern patriots and elements to rise and support genuine efforts aimed at rescuing the entire north from imminent extinction. We should join forces with government to defeat these troublemakers. They have declared total war against us. Let us not spare anything in our arsenal. It is a fight to finish. The earlier we unite against them and their apologists, the better for us.

Let us watch against street protesters with hidden agenda. We are too knowledgeable and wise to be cowed into believing that all street protests are for the good of the country. Some are meant to score cheap political points by desperate and self-serving politicians. While we all pray to God to have mercy on our country and restore peace in the land, our leaders must be alive to their responsibilities. We expect them to be proactive and not reactive in their response to issues. With God on our side, we are sure of victory.

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Article written by Labaran Saleh  and can be reached through mail [email protected]