By Sulyman Pakoyi
Nigerians protested across major cities against the prevailing economic hardship one year under President Tinubu. The country is witnessing its worst economic crisis in decades.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, inflation increased from 22.8 in June 2023 to 34.2 in June 2024. The government’s effort to cushion the effect isn’t yielding significant effort considering the removal of petroleum subsidies.
The unbearable cost of living has caused the protesters to demand that the government reduce inflation, provide job opportunities, and fight insecurity and corruption.
However, if we look back in history, these demands are constantly recurring. Every successive government witnessed at least a protest highlighting these demands, but the demands remain unmet; the situation worsens yearly.
It asks whether the government listens to citizens’ frustration or whether the placard doesn’t state the demand clearly.
As effective protest could be, it was never enough. After the protest, Nigeria needs to look inward to solve these challenges and alternatives that could proffer solutions after protests.
Advocacy is an important aspect of democracy. It plays a crucial role in holding government responsible. Advocacy on good governance would ensure that after demands are made, citizens can trace whether the government fulfills these demands.
If advocacy were taken seriously, the government would take its responsibilities seriously and listen to people because there are different advocacy groups tracking government policies and actions.
It is pretty interesting to note that groups advocate good governance in Nigeria, but only a few Nigerians know them and their objectives.
Also, most groups focus on the Federal government. Advocacy should include sensitizing the public on the responsibilities of other arms and tiers of government, especially the legislative.
Elections occur every four years. Four to eight years of our lives are in the hands of people we decide to vote for at the polls. Their actions and policies affect our social-economic life.
Electing responsible leaders would save us from placards and fists on the streets expressing our frustration. Responsible leadership will discharge their duties as expected without the citizens on the streets with placards and fists to register their frustration.
While it is important to hold government accountable, citizens also have certain responsibilities. The change we clamor for needs to start with’ me and you.’
The responsibility of building a formidable society where the rule of law prevails does not lie solely on the shoulders of elected officials. Citizens need to take responsibility for their actions and remember that these actions have consequences. That way, a progressive society can be built.
It can’t be stressed enough that Nigerians must learn to hold grudges against the government. Government officials should pay for their inactions through elections, recall, or impeachment.
The Constitution guarantees citizens the right to recall their representatives who do not serve their people. For instance, section 69 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees the right to recall a lawmaker if his/her constituents lose confidence in him/her.
We can’t continue to repay bad leaders with reelection every four years. Our lives depend on their actions.
The government seems never to be bothered by the pressing issues and instead threatens with violence. It is audacious of a senate president to confidently tell Nigerians he would ‘eat while they are outside protesting.’
Protests should last more than a week in 365 days, and we should only engage when the peak of frustration is reached. Nigerians should be able to hold reasonable grudges at every opportunity.
Protests should be more than placards on popular streets or in front of government offices. It should teach lessons to the government and even the protesters on the streets.
Sulyman Pakoyi is a corp member serving at The Hope Newspaper.
