By Rev. Fr. Jude Igho, St. Michael Catholic Church, Umutu, Warri Diocese, Delta State, Nigeria
It was Emiliano Zapata ( 1879- 1919) who said that “If no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government” .
It is in this vein, we have to, and remain watch man to each other especially our government until we get it right to move our richly blessed nation forward ( Ezekiel 33:7-9).
As a deteriorating state, we have to remind ourselves that when the righteous are in authority; the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan ( Proverbs 29:21).
At sixty, it is pertinent to ask this question. Do Nigerians rejoice over the state of the nation or groan? The answer one gets from that is yes because they groan. In fact, many are in despair, in distress, grief and seriously annoyed over the injustice which characterise the present state of the nation that is very near collapse.
Since we have no other country but this, hence our youths have decided to take the bull by the horn in taking their destiny in their hands by rising up to protest, cry for good governance and fight for justice which is their right.
Lamentation over our past failures and waiting for empty promises from the government will no longer solve the Nigerian problem.
Morseso, well meaning Nigerians and groups have severally spoken to the government on the path to follow in order to bring justice for enduring peace, but all to no avail.
It is for the above reasons that our youths began a protest against the special anti robbery squad (SARS) brutality, dehumanisation, extortion and killing of innocent Nigerian youths and none youths alike, as well as the extra judicial killings of the youths which the government has already tagged lazy.
A security architecture supposedly of high moral standard,meant to protect the life and properties of the citizens against robbers, assassins, kidnappers and other related crimes, but suddenly turned against the citizens.
One may asked, how come they turned to inflict pain and sorrow on the citizens they ought to protect? Why the brutality and killing of innocent youths?
In their generosity, the protesters have also demanded the total reformation of the police force and by extension other securities operatives that are not living up to expectation.
These youths who protest for justice for those brutalised, unduly arrested and killed should be protected by the security operatives and should not be intimidated or forced by denying their right.
Protest is a constitutional right to demand for justice, hence they should not be banned neither denied the right to peaceful protest, as it is a part of democratic process. Any attempt to force the youths or deny them the right to peaceful protest, instead of being patient with them and engage them in meaningful dialogue, will result to violence that we may not be able to with stand at the long run in our country.
At this, I will advise that the government should follow the path of caution, no matter how long the protest may be, while she continues to put in place and implement the demands of the youths for good governance.
Some Nigerians have asked why is it that the energy exerted in brutalizing and killing our youths not geared towards arresting and prosecuting kidnappers, Assassins, Boko Haram and other criminals in our country? Such questions to me, is not out of place, as some of these police officers took their heels once there is a major robbery, kidnapping or attack on the Nigerian citizens by criminal elements.
The end SARS protesters are aware of the fact that the police are Nigeria citizens, and their welfare should be taken seriously by the government. This includes their shelter, salaries, health, education for their children, risk allowance and other welfare packages to cater for themselves and family. If this is done with proper retraining of the Nigeria Police Force while they are decentralised, It will help them to be focus and perform their duties effectively and professionally.
This is where the issue of restructuring and Reformation of the system is key in our democracy.
Yes, I can confidently deduced that the protest for end SARS is more than just end the protest but a protest for a good governance.
Nigerians are sick and tired of the poor state of the nation’s leaders with their fake promises thus, they have been advocating for good governance. An agitation that has been there for many years and which falls into the deaf ears of successive past and present insensitive government.
No wonder many Nigerians sees the protest as a welcome development and are delighted to see our youths protest for reformation and restructuring of the Nigeria system entirely including Education, Health, Economic, Social, Political and Judiciary etc using ‘End SaARS as a starting point.
Since the systemic failure of the state led to our pitiable state and brought us to where we are now, we believe this will help.
For example to avoid the anomaly of the government not being able to pay teachers minimum wage of meagre sum of #30, 000 and yet be able to pay millions of naira with different allowances to our senators and this is term as injustice.
It is against this back drop all are enjoined to fight for justice and stand for our right without fear or intimidation of any kind. There is need to make our government to be accountable to the citizens so that there could be lasting peace, if ballot boxes can get to the interior villages and riverine areas, in same vein, then development should get in there as well. But there is no peace now as it stands because of corruption which is imbedded in the system.
This is injustice in our country that is tantamount to absent of peace, hence the increase of crime rate in the land.
My right ends where yours begins, as such our youth protesters should not infringe on the right of way of others as different people travel on daily basis, or attack any one lest their genuine intention of the protest be discredited.
It is also an appeal, that hoodlums should not be allowed to hijack the peaceful protest as the entire world is watching us to know how it will end either positive or negative. It is an appeal therefore, for all protesters to conduct themselves civilly while they wait for government to do the needful.
Resilience with firm purpose of intention in this fight for good governance is what we solicit from the protesters and hoping in God to be on our side.
The peaceful protest is good for transformation of the system. And it is not just a battle against injustice, but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers of this dark age. ( Eph 6: 12).
This is why our prayers for a better Nigeria should be intensify with faith. Conclusively, government should be cautious in handling the demands of the protesters. Deployment of anti-riot police is good, but they should be well cautioned so to avoid excessive use of force and more brutality so it does not snowball into crisis.