Take a Stand

Deep Sigh...

Nigeria is not an easy country to be in, either as a leader or as a citizen; if you doubt me ask our President or 2face Idibia.

Hi everyone, I seem to have lost my manners a little, delving into the matter without greetings. How're you doin'? Hope y'all have been good and didn't get up to any mischief? Good. Welcome to a new week and may this week bring us peace from all sides, amen.

If you've been keeping up with Nigeria you'd know that there was supposed to be a protest against bad governance this morning, formerly convened by one of Nigeria's best musicians, Innocent Idibia, popularly 2Baba or 2Face.  From the videos I watched, the protest wasn't meant to be against any political party, but bad governance at all levels, starting from the Federal down to the Local Government. It wasn't meant to be an opposition protest, but a citizen's march where Nigerians were supposed to come together and demand for better services from those we elected into office. 

2Face Idibia

However, things took a turn for the worse when some opposition leaders began to identify with the protest, and another group planned their own protest in support of the President, both scheduled to hold on the same day in different cities of the country. Now, knowing our youths and their penchant for thuggery and violence, I was already dreading the protest and the blood that was bound to be spilled. Here in Nigeria, it takes a few touts to turn a supposedly peaceful protest into a violent one, and the Nigerian Police had advised that the protest should be shelved, and wouldn't hesitate to open fire if the protest had turned a tad violent. 

However, 2baba bowed to intense pressure and called off the protest, while some people vowed to continue with the peaceful protest, and I believe they're ongoing in Lagos and Abuja as I write. I learnt there are heavy police presence at the locations to ensure it doesn't turn violent, I'm really apprehensive.

Now I could imagine the kind of pressure 2Face must have faced in the past one week. See, it is not untrue to say that the Nigerian elites feed off our blood and sweat. I could understand the opposition from these elites, but I couldn't fathom the intense criticisms and insults which citizens of Nigeria hurled at 2Baba! This guy is already a wealthy guy, whom I doubt is feeling the impact of the increasing cost of foodstuff in the country, yet he felt he had to out himself out there and lead this protest, to be a face and a voice for others who cannot speak for themselves, yet the people called him out. His personal life was even brought into the picture, as if that had anything to do with the protest.

When he eventually withdrew from the proposed protest, the citizens went berserk also. He was called a coward, a spineless man who was only good at singing and getting women pregnant. The people felt he had let them down and were grossly disappointed. Some allege he was paid to initiate the protest, and was paid again to withdraw his support from the protest. I really pity the man right now. Activism is not easy in Nigeria, where the police and other security agencies would use any force, both legal and illegal, to get you to shut up. 2Baba most likely didn't reckon with the opposition he would face, especially from the citizens. Moreso, with the police hinting that they wouldn't protect the protesters, he didn't want any blood spilled during the protest to be attributed to him.

To those that feel let down, you all should understand that in life, you gotta work and save yourself, nobody can be your hero if you cannot be your own hero. Don't wait for anybody to save you, because they will likely fail. If 2Face is killed or gets arrested and thrown into a dungeon, we'd just wail for a few days, or weeks, maximum, then we go back to our normal lives, while his wife, children and loved ones continue grieving. Nigeria is a very complex country and the fight to take Nigeria back will have to be fought by each of us, from our dealing with fellow citizens, eschew corrupt practices, thuggery and be upright in our dealings, then we can begin to make a difference. During elections, vote competent people, not thieves who share money during campaigns with the hope of recouping it once they win. 

Why are people afraid of the #IstandWithNigeria movement? What would you rather stand with? Leaders will come and go but Nigeria will remain, hence the #IstandWithNigeria. 

Biko lemme face my work before I get sacked. Nigeria is tough enough with salary, not to talk of when I don't see the salary. You guys should leave 2Face alone, go and be the martyr if you wish.

Peace...