By Femi Idowu
I have decided to start this column FROM THE OBSERVATION TOWER following my observation from my vantage point on all that’s been going on during the period of the 2024 END BAD GOVERNANCE 10 day protests.
It’s all happening in the unique month of August. That’s my birth month and by the special grace of God I turn 74 in a few days time.
I have been following and commenting on political affairs and deeply involved professionally in the political development of my dear country. for many decades.
At the moment I belong to a group, made up of people in my age bracket, of concerned Nigerians, from all over the world, dedicated to ensuring GOOD GOVERNANCE in our country. I believe that very soon we will be making our activities public knowledge for the benefit of the country.
Meanwhile, personally I can’t keep quiet, hence this column.
I actually expect that if those in power are sensible and reasonable, they should realise that Nigeria is now at a stage where most people will not allow them to continue to get away with their governmental recklessness and crass insensitivity.
This time around I think government has just been shown a YELLOW CARD. Any further acts of misdemeanour will surely attract a RED CARD.
We will not sit idly by and allow some opportunists, who have nothing to offer, who simply rigged their way to power to continue the mindless oppression of the people of God’s own country called Nigeria.
I am happy to note that God has not forsaken Nigeria. He actually loves us so much He has deposited so much human, material and all imaginable forms of resources there. We are currently going through a very rough patch but by the special grace of God it’s not going to last for much longer. God will save Nigeria, whether all the agents of satan around like it or not. God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform.
Nigerians must however be on the alert all the time as the battle against BAD GOVERNANCE continues. We as citizens of Nigeria must do all it takes to play our part creditably. Working with God is of essence in winning any battle.
It is not going to be only about a 10 day protest. It’s going to be a continuous exercise conducted in peace.
No longer will reasonable, well meaning Nigerians be pushed off the political scene by THUGS IN AGBADA who sit in hallowed chambers not meant for them. Those chambers are meant for real honourable people, not con men and women, wolves in sheep’s clothing.
I have been so shocked at how the powers that be seriously flexed their muscles trying to gag those who planned the 10 day protest. They are used to throwing their ill gotten wealth at everything, believing money can do all things.
I am delighted and excited that they failed woefully.
It is the inalienable right of every human being to protest, to offer alternative views, to make suggestions particularly with regards to their well being.
I find it so difficult to believe that in spite of the unbelievable level of suffering in Nigeria at the moment, some cruel people thought all Nigerians should do was just continue to wallow in abject poverty, while some people continue to feed fat on what should be our common wealth. I am talking about people who have perfected the art and science of reaping where they did not sow. I am talking about people who think they can continue to store ill gotten wealth for their children and generations to come. These people really have no idea of who God is and think they can get away with their mindlessness.
I am letting them know they cannot mock God. What ever they sow they and their generations shall surely reap. We can see it happening already.
Many of us know that blowing sirens all over the place, with convoys of vehicles is just a way of trying to dull the trauma of the inner pains they are experiencing. It’s really not helping them though!
It’s so unfortunate that many lives were lost through the mishandling of the protests and we pray the Good Lord to comfort the bereaved families. It’s also unfortunate that that the protests were hijacked in some places also due to mishandling by the powers that be.
If the protests were handled differently, I believe the damage would have been better managed/contained. If however the thinking of those in power and their utterances are to the effect that the protest was simply a political ploy of their political enemies, there’s no way they could have managed the crisis sensibly. I was actually utterly disgusted to learn at some point that some state governments were planning a pro government protest to counter the end bad governance protests. How uncouth can some people get!
No one needs to get on an observatory tower to see the crushing pain Nigerians are going through at this point in time, the unaffordable cost of living, the lack of essential social services, not to talk of the insecurity to lives and properties.
On top of all of this, the money bags, the filthy rich politicians add insult to injury with their odious ostentatious life style.
The political class doesn’t have an understanding of the people they govern, their priorities as to what’s most important for us now as a nation is most baffling.
At any rate I will conclude this introductory piece by calling on all well meaning Nigerians to ARISE O COMPATRIOTS, NIGERIA’S CALL OBEY… Nigeria’s call, what we need most now is GOOD GOVERNANCE… and that’s what this protest is all about.
Femi Idowu, one time Bureau Chief, NTA News, Ibadan Bureau, is a London based freelance journalist.
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