Protest is a legitimate means of citizens expressing themselves and the narratives being spinned against the EndBadGovernance protests cannot take away the legitimacy of the protest of Nigerians. Obviously, this administration has become fearful of the will of a united people asking for a proper standard of living and this is a positive reality as this fear can initiate progress, growth and development for the nation. Leaders must feel pressured by the citizens so they do not get too comfortable in power to the extent of shunning the realities of the citizens.
Since the inception of the Tinubu’s administration, the people have been taken for a ride. As a matter of fact, Tinubu has shown clearly that he has no regard for the general will of the people. Unfortunately, the threat of protest has helped in sending fear down his scrotum. A government must fear its people, not the other way round.
There is obvious anger in the land and, the best thing any responsive government could do is to approach whatever the issue is strategically in ensuring that the needs of the people are met. I have taken my time to study the demands of the protesters, and, in all honesty, there is nothing out of the blues in all the demands.
Though, there are some parts of the demands that needs modification, but, that does not still render it meaningless or senseless or unattainable. However, the President could have done well by initiating a town hall meeting or summon a press conference where the issues could be best discussed and what the plan of his administration is to handle the issues raised by the protesters.
The protesters have highlighted some of their demands which includes;
– Allow Diaspora Voting
The discourse on Diaspora Voting has been on for a very long time. And, it also date recently to the time of Goodluck Jonathan as the President. And, I could remember that in the build-up to the 2015 General elections, the call for the participation of Nigerians in Diaspora in the voting process of this country got more intensed. However, nothing much was done to address it.
Very recently, the Speaker of the House of Representatives sponsored a Diaspora Voting Bill which passed second reading and referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters. Unfortunately, till this moment, nothing has been heard of the bill from the Electoral Committee of the House of Representatives.
Take it or leave it, there is no excuse to have disenfranchised Nigerians in the Diaspora from participating in the electoral process of the country. Diaspora Nigerians, in their millions contributes greatly to the economic growth of the country.
The only issue that has been raised so far about Diaspora Voting is that there is no data. Meanwhile, the problem of data can be solved by proper planning. It’s a question of will, of readiness. You cannot keep people away from voting in their country because of where they choose to live or work. The Tinubu’s administration must set things in place to expedite Diaspora Voting. It is achievable and a good way to go in strengthening democracy.
– Scrap the 1999 constitution
Many a Nigerian have faulted the 1999 Constitution most especially as it relates to federalism. And, there is no doubting the fact that the Nigerian people urgently needs a Constitution that is truly federal in all sense of it. The argument is simple; the 1999 Constitution is a creation of the military. It was imposed on the Nigerian people by the military after 15years tumultuous rule. The issue of State policing and over concentration of power in the centre has to be properly addressed.
However, the Constitution should not be scrapped. Scrapping the Constitution gives space for military takeover. We cannot exist as a people without an existing Constitution which guides conducts and roles. The wayforward is quite simple. The Nigerian government must consider the provisions of the Sovereign National Conference. And, indeed, a Constitution Drafting Committee must be set up to give the people a people-centred constitution. We cannot continue to operate a document which gives so much power to the centre thereby turning the State to beggarly lot. A document that violates the principle of power devolution which is essential to federalism.
This government must show the political will to promote revolutionary change via a national conference and a popular referendum to determine the future of the country and how to be ruled.
– Scrap the Senate
There is no doubting the fact that the cost of governance is extremely high in Nigeria. When compared with our economic reality, one will embrace the urgency to cut the cost of governance by streamlining every aspect of it. It is public knowledge that the amount being spent to maintain the country’s bicameral legislature at the federal level has been one of, if not the most debated issue in the country. To add salt to the injury, the public does not have any information as regards how the funds are spent and, most especially, the remuneration of the lawmakers.
This is not a question of whether or not unicameral or bicameral legislature is good or bad. It is not our problem and should never be a problem. As a people, we have established that bicameral legislature is too expensive for Nigeria. Imagine a situation whereby there are 109 senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives and each and everyone of them including their retinue of aides draws salaries and allowances from the treasury. In fact, it is a huge cost on the nation’s dying economy.
Tinubu and his acolytes must understand that unicameral legislature will better serve the country in terms of savings and it will not reduce governmental efficiency. It must be urgently considered.
– Revive power sector
In fact, there is no Nigerian (resident) who will not be in support of a radical need to immediately revive the power sector. The Minister of Power, Adelabu, during one of his appearances at a Senate Committee on Power, very recently, admitted of the need to restructure the power sector. The Federal Government itself declared that the number of Nigerians who lack access to electricity from the national grid is about 92million. Is that not scary enough?
Obviously, the government has to commit itself to making the power sector works. Yes, Tinubu’s online almajiris will claim that the President assenting to the Electricity Act, 2023 is a step towards that. But, it goes beyond signing. Implementation!
The Federal Government must urgently address the challenges in the power sector and ensure it works.
– Release Nnamdi Kanu
For national security, the Tinubu’s administration must opt for dialogue in the case of Nnamdi Kanu. The AGF can decide to withdraw whatever case the Federal government is pursuing against Kanu most especially when Kanu himself has asked for political solution. There has also been calls from across for a political solution. The federal government should not continue the persecution of Kanu. The government must also find a means to settle the crisis in the South Eastern part of the country which is overstretching members of the Armed Forces. On a daily basis, the country keep losing its best all in the name of insurrection that could have best been settled politically. Kanu should be granted amnesty so far he is prepared for such. A government that could run amnesty for Boko Haram can run same for Kanu.
– Make lawmaking part-time endeavour
The failure of successive government in the country to heed the demand of the people for a cut in the cost of governance birth the call for part-time legislature. However, in the practical sense of it, part-time legislature makes no difference except if there is another perspective to it other than cutting cost. Whether part-time or full-time, if the cost of governance is not extremely cut, the problem of excess spending persists. The Nigerian people must have information of every of the penny being spent. Unfortunately, it has been kept in secrecy.
– Pay #250,000 minimum wage
The federal government must come to terms with the fact that the present inflation rate makes nonsense of the proposed #70,000 minimum wage. The government must stabilise the naira and then erase inflation to the bearest minimum, if not totally such that the economy is stable. However, while trying to stabilise the naira and removing all the factors of inflation, the government must increase minimum wage so that the people can afford their cost of living. Hence, the refusal of #70,000!
– Return fuel subsidy
In my interventions on national issues, I have never for once been an advocate of the removal of fuel subsidy. A government that gives Hajj subsidy should not say there is no fund that will cover fuel subsidy. Every government of the world in one way or the other pays subsidy to their citizens. In Nigeria, reverse is the case. Citizens subsidises for their rulers. The removal of fuel subsidy has birth hunger and increased poverty. The government must urgently address the problem created by subsidy removal by first reintroducing it. And, take it or leave it, the Nigerian government has to make our refineries work or at best privatize them for local refining which will help make fuel price as low as possible and, at that point, there won’t be need for a subsidy any longer.
The core demands of the protest are what even politicians themselves chant during their different campaign tours. Trying to discourage citizens from an EndBadGovernance protests is a tactic admittance by the ruling class that they have continued to brutalise and punish Nigerians with bad governance. The protest must be held and, security operatives who are clearly being maintained by taxpayers’ money must ensure that the security is not hijacked. There must be enough security cover for the people as they exercise their fundamental rights to assemble.
Kazeem Olalekan Israel writes from Ibadan, Nigeria.
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