Kidnapping, banditry, others: When revolution isn’t desirable

In the past three weeks, the word revolution has become one of the most used words across Nigeria. This is so because of a protest tagged #RevolustionNow and the subsequent arrest of the leader, Omoleye Sowore, a presidential candidate in the last general elections. ABDULRAHMAN ZAKARIYAU in this report takes a look at when a call for revolution is desirable in a developing country like Nigeria and when it is not.

What is revolution?

The term revolution means different things to different people; its meaning also differs from one field or sector to another. However, since the focus is from a political perspective, revolution is seen as a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organisation which occurs when the population revolts against the government. In other words, it is a forceful overthrow of a government or social order in favour of a new system. This definition of revolution has left many Nigerians with many questions. Was it this type of revolution that Omoyele Sowore called for? What were their plans? Do Nigerians need this type of revolution now? 

Sowore’s #RrevolutionNow

Before his was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on August 04, 2019, Omoyele Sowore, who was the founder the African Action Congress (AAC) and its presidential candidate in the last general elections planned for the #RevolutionNow! protest of August 05, 2019. In his declaration via tweeter @YeleSowore, he said, “I am using this opportunity to invite our favourite celebrities to declare their stand on the state of the Nigerian nation by joining Da movement! #Revolution #RevolutionNow #OrangeRevolution. @realseunkuti @iam_Davido @wizkidayo @falzthebahdguy @adekunleGOLD @2niteFlavour add urs.” He made this declaration through the Coalition for Revolution (CORE).

Notably, Sowere group’s RevolutionNow protest held in Lagos, Osun, Ondo and Cross River states depite his arrest. The group divided its protest into three phases. First phase: End anti-people economic policies. Part of it is the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries of workers and pensions of retirees and Return of fuel prices and electricity tariffs to their levels in 1999. Second phase: End special privileges for the ruling class; that is all public officials must be banned from educating their children in private schools in Nigeria or in schools in foreign countries, among others. While the Third phase: Return political power and national wealth to the working people. That is to reduce the cost of governance by abolishing the Senate, thus establishing a unicameral legislature with only the House of Representatives and producing a new constitution for Nigeria by a democratic and people-led process involving open discussion, debate, and determination of proposals and suggestions by the working people.

Interestingly, the concept of #RevolutionNow, the arrest of Sowere and continued detention by the DSS has continued to be a topic of discussion among Nigerians, while some condemned the government, others commended it on the account that Nigeria does not need revolution now.

Not now – Muhammed

A public affairs commentator, Abdulmalik Muhammed, says any revolution in Nigeria now might affect the country’s unity because of the precarious security situation.

Muhammed said, “Obviously, calling for revolution against a democratically elected president of a diverse country like Nigeria has an undertone. The timing is wrong because the government has just been re-elected. So, they should be given time to tackle some of these challenges.

“Some people have argued that this is the best time to call for revolution, they want to take advantage of the tense atmosphere. But the question is who controls the revolution? Who determines when it will end? So, it is a dangerous call that no one knows how it will end. Nigeria’s unity and peace are important for Africa and even the entire world. So, we should carry out our revolution democratically through the ballot boxes.”

Continuing, he said: “Yes, the Buhari and APC government has spent four years and they should be allowed to also do their best in the next four years. There are so many challenges, but we should also not run away from the fact that this government has also achieved some success. So, a call for revolution now is more like a deliberate attempt to instigate Nigerians against President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“In my opinion, we should be more concerned about how to support this government through objective criticisms, suggestions, and recommendations. In Nigeria today, some of us pray for the government to fail because we don’t like the person or the party. But the success of any government should be the interest of all citizens. Because the success of a government will be of great benefit to all Nigerians. So, revolution not now, President Muhammadu Buhari his team should be allowed to tackle insecurity and some of the problems. As far as am concerned he has not failed yet, so he should not be condemned. 

‘What Nigerians need’

A traditional ruler, the Ohimege Opanda, in Nasarawa state, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, has urged the federal government to create more jobs to the jobless Nigerians in order to curtail incessant kidnappings and other security challenges bedevilling the country.

Abdullahi, a first-class traditional ruler, made the call on Thursday in his palace in Umaisha, Toto local government area of the state.

The Egbura traditional ruler said the creation of more job opportunities by the federal government would go a long way in not only tackling poverty in the country, but will also checkmate the country’s security challenges.

“A lots need to be done by the federal government in order to create mass employment opportunities for the jobless youth and other Nigerians. The creation of more jobs through various programmes will go a long way in tackling insecurity thereby improving on the standard of living of people in the country,” he said.

Abdullahi also called on the youth and other Nigerians to be serious in their educational pursuit in order to excel in life, adding that education is key to success and a route to escape from poverty box; hence the need for Nigerians to embrace it with utmost priority.

Industrial, agrarian, ethical revolution – Ojo

A political analyst, Jide Ojo, says Nigeria needs industrial, agrarian and ethical revolution and not the type of revolution Sowere called for.

He said, “I am of the considered view that election is the best way to institute a change of government. Embarking on violent protests in order to bundle out people in government can be counter-productive. A mob action breeds anarchy. There is no gainsaying that street protests can be hijacked by miscreants who can go on a looting spree thereby wreaking havoc on the very people the protesters are meant to protect their interests. I think what has happened to Sowore is a tragedy of good intentions! He meant well for the country, but adopted a wrong strategy for a noble cause.

“We need industrial revolution! Yes, that will happen if we can overcome our energy challenge. By that I mean self-sufficiency in provision of affordable and constant electricity supply. So also is the dire need for optimal domestic refining of crude oil. The gas being flared from the crude refining process is what is needed for the thermal stations built to generate electricity. For instance, Egbin, Geregu, Omotosho power plants depend on gas for electricity production. Simply put, overcoming our energy challenge will revolutionise our industrial sector. Micro, Small, Medium and Large-scale enterprises will flourish once we are able to get our act together in the energy sector.” 

He further said: “Another revolution Nigeria needs is agrarian revolution. For us to achieve food security, we need self-sufficiency in food production and the agriculture value chain. The millions of foreign currency spent on food importation are not sustainable. Backward integration and import substitution policies are highly desirable. This administration is on track with the drive to make the country self-sufficient in rice production.   Through the Anchor Borrowers’ Scheme of Central Bank of Nigeria, millions of rice farmers have been supported with soft loans (low-interest credit scheme) to enable them to engage in improved rice farming. This is a step in the right direction. There is also an ongoing effort to support livestock farmers in order to improve dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, etc.”

NYCN’s take

The president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ambassador Sukubo Sara- Igne Sukubo, in his reaction, said revolution is undesirable and urrged Nigerians to keep faith with the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said, “Revolution is a process that originates from the supreme conscience of the people, not through violence instigation in the guise of protest, history show revolution to be characterised by violence, bloodshed and, war. Revolution in a democratic setting is done through the ballot of an election.

“The present administration was reelected back into office less than six months ago, indicating the love of the people for the continuous reign of President Muhammudu Buhari. The anchor of the revolutionNow protest also contested to be president of Federal Republic of Nigeria with less than 40, 000 votes acquired, to call for revolution afterward is ill-motivated, a plot to destabilise the country and cause unrest.

“Revolution in its entirety is an archaic mentality of government changing which is not welcome in democratic settings. Mr. Sowore, the convener of the movement, is expected to know that a democratically elected government is not sacked by revolution. There are procedures in doing things, Nigeria is not a banana republic where anybody can just wake up in the morning and do whatever they so desire without recourse to the law. We condemn the call for revolution in what in whatever guise, as the call is fraught with evil underlay. The youth are, however, enjoined to keep faith with the country leadership at all levels, put the nation in prayers and be loyal to their fatherland.”

Days of coups, revolutions over – Presidency

The Presidency recently condemned agitations for revolution by the Global Coalition for Security and Democracy in Nigeria, saying elections are more appropriate for change of government.

In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Presidency said the days of coups and revolutions in the country are over.

The statement read in part: “The President of Nigeria and his administration respect and uphold the right of every Nigerian to peaceful protest and civil campaign – whether to raise awareness on issues and even oppose the government. It is the inalienable right of all citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do so. There is, however, a difference between a peaceful call to protest and incitement for a revolution. The organisation championing this planned action is not fronted by any serious public faces. We call on the sponsors and organisers to have the decency to come forward and make their identity known – out of respect to all Nigerians – so that Nigerians can be fully aware in whose name this ‘revolution’ is being proposed and who the beneficiaries may be.

“Less than six months ago, Nigeria held simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections. Both contests were won resoundingly by President Muhammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress party. The campaign was observed, and results were confirmed by international election monitoring groups and observers. The result was even contested by the losing presidential candidate and his party in court. The ballot box is the only constitutional means of changing government and a president in Nigeria. The days of coups and revolutions are over.

“Those making the “revolution’’ call hide behind the veil of social media modernity. But without revealing the identity of their sponsors this shadowy campaign is no better, and no more democratic, than the days of old.

“The president calls on all those who seek to use and hide behind everyday citizens to attain power through undemocratic and violent means, which has been alluded, to come out clearly and be identified. They should lead their march in person. Only then will they begin to have the right to call themselves leaders before the people of Nigeria.”

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