Like Buhari, who claimed the #EndSARS protests of 2020 were an attempt to remove him from power, Tinubu fears a similar fate. However, the goal of these protests is accountability, not the overthrow of leaders.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!I strongly support the upcoming public protests in Nigeria. They represent a legitimate and patriotic response to the government’s failures and should be endorsed even by President Bola Tinubu, just as they were by leaders 12 years ago.
By “protest,” I mean the peaceful and open assembly of citizens to voice their dissatisfaction with the poor governance and dire conditions they face.
I am not referring to riots, violence, or vandalism, but to a clear and public expression of dissent, including the right to criticize the government.
This stance is not new for me. My advocacy for public protests dates back to my undergraduate days, and I have participated in street demonstrations in New York and at the United Nations.
In October 2009, I urged groups like the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) and the Nigerian Labour Congress to take to the streets, as I did in a follow-up memo three months later.
My message was to harness the power of public protest to express a collective rejection of forces hindering Nigeria’s progress.
In February 2012, I issued “A Scream In The Streets III,” adding groups like the Joint Action Front and Occupy Nigeria, following President Goodluck Jonathan’s removal of the fuel subsidy.
Despite the initial success, the movement failed to deliver lasting change, partly due to the lack of a cohesive strategy.
I was a harsh critic of Jonathan’s government, observing that Buhari’s administration, while criticizing Jonathan for corruption, became even more corrupt.
My criticism of Buhari’s first term highlighted his failure to surpass Jonathan’s performance, despite his promises of transparency.
Now, nearly a decade after Jonathan left office, Nigeria is preparing for another major public protest against the Buhari/Tinubu regime. Tinubu’s government is reacting defensively, including
