Amidst all that's going on, what I truly feel is a great burden to educate people or carry them along, because only a few of us know what's going on. We really can't afford to work in seclusion. There's a large portion of Nigerians who are deliberately frustrated by the system and have become grossly misinformed.
Take, for instance, our outdated education system that churns out millions of sub-par, unequipped, and unemployable youths year-in-year-out, who become convinced that there is no hope for a recognition of true gifts and honest work. If we‘re tracking properly, some of these people over time take up positions of power and not trained well enough to hold themselves accountable, let alone be put in check by others.
A report by the Civil Liberty Organisation on their Liberty publication in 1992 shows how much lament was uncovered as far back as then. Fast forward to 2020, and everything mentioned in that publication sounds just as fresh.
A section read
PSYCHIATRIC TEST FOR COPS:
Officers and men of the Nigerian Police force will soqn undergo psychiatric test as part of efforts to find out why some .of them are always quick on the trigger against defenseless Nigerians. Making this known at a news conference in Kaduna on September 17, the force's image maker, Mr. Frank Odita told newsmen that the step is necessary to determine factors responsible for the incessant killing of innocent Nigerians by policemen. In his words: We want to find out whether some of us have psychiatric problem or whether it is frustration. He conceeded thatthe deaths at checkpoints had not only given the police force bad publicity but had also become a source of friction between it and the Nigerian public. Speaking on the new security measures being put in place following the withdrawal of policemen from check-points, Mr. Odita promised that under the arrangement man-onground and motorised patrol system by policemen would be used He also assured that resources-vehicles and motor-bikes would be made available to all police commands nationwide to ensure a successful execution of the new security strategy.
Our priorities and methods of performance evaluation have become so ignored that no one expects to be called out for doing so poorly. More so, we find that others are celebrated for doing what they ought to be doing by virtue of their responsibility. For example, a political leader is commended for his efforts in putting in place basic amenities that should have been in existence already. With this as the status quo, we then see how we‘re in a cycle of mediocrity that leaves no room for improvement whatesoever.
A friend of my said;
“..been editing newspaper pieces and all I can say is, the ruling luitenants are completely delusional. They’re in a soundproof bubble, seeing what they only want to see. Information is curtailed and curaed to soothe their egos. As far as it goes, what truly happens in this country goes unreported. The #EndSars protests is just beginning to shed light on the selective silence of the media.”
I’ve and seen all sort of posts that say that our mothers and fathers are to blame for the fail state we’re in. I’m not one to point fingers if it doesn't aid in provisioning a solution to the problem at hand. However, I got irritated by something that happened to me today. While chatting with my family about the results of the protests, my mum informs me to ensure I delete any pictures of the #EndSars protest on my phone, and I hold my tongue (my fingers actually) from lashing out at her. I love my mother, and I understand how years of leaving in a nation enveloped in uncertainty can cause you to feel unsafe. But I took a cue out of what she said.
Let me break this down;
- She still can’t buy into the idea that for no reason should I be stopped unwarrantfully, and my phone checked.
- She knows what’s going on and doesn’t mind others fighting for the cause of the nation, but not her own children.
- She doesn’t believe that we can do anything about the state we are in.
I could go on listing, but like I said, I mostly care about the solutions. People need to be re-educated on what the laws that govern us are, and how they affect us daily. They need to be sensitzed into the hope that there is a bigger picture at hand, that every life is as important as the next, and every voice has a say. Even more, when a majority of the nation speaks, they deserve to be heard.
There are many Nigerians; old and young, who can’t seem to understand what it is we’re fighting for. Some are just driven by inate anger at the government and have joined in the protests. But hear me when I say that an uniformed protest or march is just as ineffective as you can imagine.
I am open to suggestions and ideas on how to move forward with accurate/coincse communication of this cause and the education of the neglected. This is not just another wind that would blow over, this is the earnest awakening of a called out generation.
This was a hasty write up, so forgive any grammatical errors you find, I would be updating this article as time goes and adding useful links and resources for the ongoing protest as I find.
Send emails to filter filter35-inter@yahoo.com for comments and contributions.
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RESOURCES:
- Nigerian Activists and Celebs Are Protesting Abusive Police Power in the Country With #EndSARS - Complex
- #YNaijaEndSARSupdates - Jimoh Isiaq
- Protesters being attached by other citizens - Twitter
- EndSarsNow Campaign - Notion Board
- How to Protest Safely - Wired Article
- Protesting safely in Lagos - Article by Folu Oyefeso
- Zikoko explains why and how SARS was created
- MUST WATCH!!! - Police officer rants on radio station
UPDATES:
In a recent discussion with some like-minded friends, Mr. B. said;
The honest truth is that people have been pushed to the edge. They've been frustrated, angry and burnt for far too long. And there isn't one leader or group to speak to... it's decentralized, organic and spread out. Thousands of angry young people, united only in their pain and disappointment in their country. And they're also extremely suspicious. Any attempt at trying to "be their leader", or to "speak for them" is met with swift rebellion and intense dragging... even for those who are on their side. They just want to see the country change. They want to see their Govt do more than talk. They want talk-and-do. They want action. Swift, decisive, progressive action. They're not interested in conversations, press reports and announcements. My advice? For anyone who wants to help... stop focusing on the Protests. Focus on the Government and get them to ACT. Get some killer/corrupt cops prosecuted and charged - start with the ones who killed Jimoh in Ogbomosho, Kolade Johnson in Lagos and more. And do it publicly and transparently. Put THAT on TV. Get a list of all the Protesters who were assaulted, falsely accused and framed by Police during the last few days of protests. Apologize to them for infringing on their rights, and compensate them. Focus on getting Govt to set up a compensation fund for families of the people who have been murdered by the Police. And amplify THAT online and in the press. Fire some high level officers who could have stopped all this from happening but let killers and extortionists run wild on their watch. Young people are not stupid. SARS yesterday is SWAT today and Anti-Cultism-Squad next week. Set up that independent reform panel and immediately begin investigating police misconduct. Set up a hotline for people to report abuse. Put a timeline in place to review the salaries of average policemen. Isn't it ironic that the young people are ADVOCATING for better pay for the same Police officers that are assaulting them?
Instead of trying to talk your young people down, actually take a moment to LISTEN to them for once, please. Review their #5for5 list, take stock of all they're asking for and be honest - they're not unreasonable demands, are they? Help get them done and take it even further than that.
Every body is looking to sit down with the protesters but I think that's the wrong approach. The protesters are not the problem. The Police is. The leadership is. The Government is. The people don't want any closed door meetings. They want integrity, honesty and action. So if you want to sit down with anyone, please, sit down with the Government. Sit down with our leaders. Get THEM to act. And make sure we can all see the actions. Then perhaps the mood will change. Young Nigerians have been pushed to their limits, and they're now reminding the people in power that power belongs to the people. We are in uncharted territory as a country, but our prayer at the end of the day is that Nigeria will be better off for it. A wise man once said "there's nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come". Tick tock, Nigeria.
And honestly, I agree! This is not one man’s fight right now. Everyone needs to key into the idea that there is something to be demanded for, and now is the time.