Political action must go beyond protests – Osinbajo

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has stressed the need for political action to go beyond mere protests, calling for measurable and tangible outcomes, especially in impoverished societies.

He said this while giving a keynote address at the Technology, New Media, Citizens, and Governance Conference, TNCG, in Lagos on Thursday.

Osinbajo highlighted the socio-economic toll of protests on informal workers and traders who depend on daily earnings.

“Political action must go beyond protest and the euphoria that it brings. It must lead to some measurable or tangible result, otherwise it becomes counterproductive,” he said.

While addressing the role of the elite in driving meaningful change, Osinbajo underscored their responsibility in crafting actionable objectives and building coalitions that lead to structural reforms.

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“The role of the elite in political action is crucial. When I say the elite in this room, I speak of us, of civil society.

“The elite have the facilities to craft the objectives of political action or to clearly articulate the grievance and what would amount to success in the particular political action.

“They have the networks and the resources to build coalitions for political change, often leading to structural reforms; the type of change that makes a real difference,” the ex-VP noted.

Osinbajo, who also reflected on the dual-edged nature of technology and social media in mobilising political movements, praised the platforms for enabling leaderless coordination.

He, however, warned against the absence of clear objectives or leadership, which can hinder the achievement of actionable outcomes.

“A major advantage of technology, and in particular social media, in mobilising protesters is that the coordination of action can take place without any apparent leadership. However, if there is no achievable end, the effort may lack direction,” he added.