By Tochukwu Ezukanma<\/p>\n
In sane climes, every element of power comes with a corresponding
\nresponsibility. But in the upside-down world of our beloved country,
\nNigeria, every element of power comes with a corresponding
\nirresponsibility. The Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) was specially
\nempowered to enable its operatives to effectively combat violent crimes.
\nBut in our characteristic abuse of power, they convolved their powers
\ninto a license for impunity, brutality and murderous binge. They took
\nillegal arrests, extortion, torture and extra-judicial killings to
\nextents, hitherto unknown in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Sick and tired of SARS excesses, Nigerian youths, who have borne a
\npreponderant brunt of SARS abuse of powers, took to the streets, in
\nprotest, demanding the disbandment of SARS, reformation of the entire
\nNigerian Police Force, good governance and social justices. They have
\npresented a seven-point demand to the government. Their demands are
\nlegitimate, pertinent and cogent, and in total conformity with the
\ndesires and aspirations of the generality of Nigerians. Until the
\nfederal government accepts and implements these demands, the struggle
\nshould continue. Aluta continua!<\/p>\n
It is exhilarating that Nigerian youths, for long, disparaged for their
\nlaziness, civic indifference and political docility are daringly
\nstanding up for a worthy cause. Potentially, democracy is a wellspring
\nof political stability, social justice and overall societal progress. It
\ncan progressively raise our standards of public morality, and steadily
\nelevate our national ethics and refine our value system. However, these
\nare possible only if the governed, especially the youths, actively
\nengage the governing, demanding probity, accountability and social
\njustice.<\/p>\n
Thus far, the EndSARS protests have elicited a number of promises from
\nthe federal government. In principle, the government has agreed to all
\nthe earlier five-point demand of the protesters. Refreshingly, the
\nagitation continues, because, according to an Igbo saying, \u201cAdi ekwelu
\nonye okwu asi, o bu na ngbe okwulu ezi okwu\u201d, meaning, you do not
\nbelieve a liar, even when he is telling the truth. The generality of
\nNigerians distrust the government. So, first of all, the government
\nneeds to earn the public trust, by going beyond mere promises to
\nactually implementing the demands before the youths can take it serious.<\/p>\n
The nexus between the police and the government it serves is obvious. It
\nwas therefore logical that the protesters expanded their earlier five
\ndemands, to seven, to include reforms in government, good governance and
\nsocial justice. After all, the police force is only a tool of the ruling
\nelite, and its conducts are accurate barometers of the attitude of the
\nruling towards the ruled. The Nigerian ruling class is corrupt and
\nlawless, and infamous for theft of public funds and scornful
\nindifference to the ever increasing economic miseries of Nigerians.
\nInescapably, the Nigerian police are corrupt and lawless, and in their
\ndisdain for Nigerians, trigger-happy and contemptuous of human lives.
\nTherefore, an effective reformation of the Nigerian police requires
\nobvious changes in the government\u2019s modus operandi.<\/p>\n
A onetime American president, Richard Nixon, once wrote that in politics
\nthe stakes of power are so high; it can mean life or death, prosperity
\nor poverty, happiness or tragedy for millions of people. Therefore those
\nthat seek power \u201cmust do so with a sense of mission, and belief in
\ntheir ability to change the course of history to the point that nothing,
\nnot personal gain, not even, their own personal survival, matters to
\nthem\u201d. Those who seek power for personal gains, will, \u201cat the very
\nbest, be dangerous leaders\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian government is teeming with dangerous leaders: those that
\ncame to power to advance personal gains and pander to insatiable greed.
\nNot surprisingly: the political class steals public funds with the
\navarice and callousness that will flabbergast even the most vicious
\narmed robber; and we have an unconscionable system that engenders the
\ninordinate wealth of an elite few at the economic strangulation of many.
\nDo our governors not appropriate for personal use (security vote), at
\nleast, N500 million monthly, and still, sometimes, refuse to pay state
\nemployees\u2019 monthly salaries? Despite the disproportionate
\nconcentration of extreme poverty in Nigeria, our legislators are the
\nhighest paid legislators in the world.<\/p>\n
In addition, it is not surprising that that our public infrastructures
\nare totally decayed. With a despicable healthcare delivery system,
\nNigeria has the highest birth-related and under-five child mortality
\nrate in the world. Our schools, even, the universities, have been
\nreduced to horrifying reflections of their former selves. These, once
\nbastions of erudition and intellectual excellence have deteriorated to
\nlamentable centers of mediocrity, cult violence, intellectual lassitude
\nand sexual harassment. The stealing, sharing and salting away of
\nbillions of dollars by the ruling elite reduced a disproportionate
\nnumber Nigerians to poverty, ignorance, insecurity, ill-health, wretched
\nhousing, homelessness, etc. The list of our woes is endless, and our
\ntroubles are glaring, palpable and blatant.<\/p>\n
To change this unconscionable status quo, aluta continua \u2013 the
\nstruggle must continue till all the demands of EndSARS protesters are
\nagreed to and implemented by the government. The changes must include:
\ndramatic decrease in the monthly security votes of state governors;
\nsevere reduction of the salaries and allowances of federal legislators;
\nthe financial independence of state legislatures; the independence of
\nlocal governments from state governments; at least, the doubling of
\nnational budgetary allocations to education and health; an end to
\ngovernment-financed medical tourism; etc. Until all these conditions are
\nmet, the agitation should continue.<\/p>\n
It has been written that: the greatest force in the world is an idea
\nwhose time has come. The time has come in Nigeria for change \u2013
\nsubstantive and far-reaching changes \u2013 because we are totally
\ndisillusioned and disgusted with the system. Nigerians are tired of
\ntolerating the intolerable, stomaching the instomachable and suffering
\nthe insufferable in the hand of an evil oligarchy, unrivaled in its
\ncatalog of avarice, corruption and brigandage. With their protests, the
\nyouth are speaking for the generality of Nigeria, and are, essentially,
\nsaying: Enough is enough.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, President Buhari has no choice but to bow to the legitimate
\nand collective demands of Nigeria, as encapsulated by the demands of the
\nprotesters. For those giddy with power and obfuscated by megalomania,
\nand are, consequently, unable to realize that the terror of the gun
\ncannot extinguish the awakened aspirations of the people, I have a
\nsuggestion. I suggest that they flip through the pages of modern history
\nfor some didactic readings on the Shah of Iran, Ferdinand Marcos of the
\nPhilippines and Sani Abacha of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Tochukwu Ezukanma writes from Lagos, Nigeria.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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