REVOLUTIONARY AGITATIONS IN NIGERIA: HARBINGER OF A BANANA REPUBLIC

Welcome to another episode of journey across minds!

The dismal picture that Nigeria paints currently is of a nation at the precipice of many calamities. Growing activism is no more than an attestation to a failed state.

In the wake of the 2020 index ranking Nigeria as number 15 among failed states of the 177 countries that were surveyed, with a deficiency in providing security and an overall enabling environment for her citizens, political activism has grown. This activism is not far from the halls of discontent and echoes of secession.

AN APPRAISAL OF ACTIVISM IN NIGERIA

Activism has been defined as a doctrine or practice that emphasizes direct vigorous action, especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue. 

Some of the events that have triggered activism will be discussed below:

First, activism has been reflected in the advent of marginal activist groups with threats of secession from Nigeria. Among the Southerners, this agitation is chided by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a movement reawakened in 2012 which is led by Nnamdi Kanu. 

Although IPOB is the most active and therefore, the most popular separationist group in the country, this does not conceal the presence of other marginalized groups such as the clamour for the Oduduwa Republic by the Yorubas and the Arewa Republic for the northerners.

Secondly, the #EndSARS protest is the biggest activist movement in recent times. This movement started on 3 October 2020 after the exposure of the nefarious activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Finally, the #BringBackOurGirls protest was another activist group that shook Nigeria. It had followed the abduction of over 276 school girls from the Government Secondary School in the town of Chibok, Borno State on the night of April 14-15, 2014.

GROWING ACTIVISM: A REFLECTION OF NIGERIA AS A FAILED STATE

A failed state is a political body that has disintegrated to a point where the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government no longer function properly, lacking both legitimacy and effectiveness.

Nigeria is a failed state, having perfectly fit into the proverbial shoes of the country defined above. Some of the areas of deficiency in Nigeria’s system are:

First, the issue of insecurity in Nigeria is nothing to write home about. This is evidenced by the EndSARS protest which exposed the activities of the terrorist group, SARS. This notwithstanding, the government had done nothing but to disband it, replacing it with a similar group under a different name, the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), leading Nigerians to question the authenticity of the earlier disbandment. 

The event of 20 October, 2020 is one a majority of Nigerians will not forget in a hurry. That day over 15 Nigerian protesters had been murdered by the Nigerian military while carrying out a peaceful protest at Lekki tollgate in Lagos with many more injured. The citizens of Nigeria were still reeling from the shock when the government gave its shocking response, denying any knowledge of the bloody incident! This widened the distrust Nigerians previously had in the government.

Secondly, another evidence of Nigeria’s retrogression is the lack of trust in the legitimacy of the government. It is little wonder there are various separatist agitations in the country. The sit-at-home orders issued by the leaders of IPOB are always enforced by non-state actors in the region as citizens no longer comply with the directives of the government due to a lack of trust in their capability to protect lives and properties. 

For the Yorubas, the attendant loss of hope in the government has been occasioned by their hinge of the perpetuated agenda of the Fulanis to dominate the country with them, holding the reins of power for over 40 years out of the 61 years of Nigeria’s independence. Consequently, they issue threats as to who has a chance to be in power and who does not. Thus, the threats of secession.

Thirdly, Nigeria’s shortcoming is depicted by the failure of the government to provide social services. For example, education. This is evident in the failure of the government to keep schools safe. Hence, the kidnap of the Chibok Girls in 2014. Reports show that President Goodluck Jonathan and President Muhammadu Buhari had failed to address the socio-economic situation of the country during that period. This event further portrayed the ill equipment and lack of motivation of the military by the government. 

The Boko Haram group was simply more equipped than the military of a whole country! The lackadaisical attitude of the government to the above situation is also evidenced in her celebration of her centenary celebration a few days after the abduction of these girls. It was perhaps, the failure of the government to properly address this issue that caused the repetition of a similar event in Dapchi, Yobe State in 2018. 

In the same vein, the failure of the government to prioritize education has led to numerous strike actions in Nigerian institutions, thereby jeopardising the future of the youth. This is not obtainable in the West.

CONCLUSION

It is pellucid that the reason for the revolutionary agitations in Nigeria is due to the incompetence of the government. However, secession is not an option. It is imperative that our leaders take up the proverbial needle and stitch up its shortcomings before they become nine.

Author: Chioma Nwanna

Chioma Nwanna is a 200 level law student of the University of Nigeria, with interest in creative and article writing. 

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