A unanimous decision taken by Nigerian youths gave birth to the #EndSARS protests. The populace rediscovered themselves and ditched their differences to stand for a common goal.
Nigerian youths were determined to seek an end to police brutality. That determination has not waned. There is only a pause to the physical protests. A pause became necessary after Nigerian soldiers opened fire at peaceful protesters at Lekki Toll gate on October 20, 2020.
The protests have uncovered some truths about us as a people. In this article, Blessing Enenaite outlines six lessons to take home from the #EndSARS protests.
1. Strength in unity
Daily, the youths trooped out in large numbers with one common goal – to put an end to police brutality. During this period, the people dropped their tribal and religious differences.
The fight became a collective one as people dropped their agenda before they trooped to the protest grounds. This unity enabled the protests to thrive; it also increased the strength of the protesters.
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2. Social media is a powerful tool for mass mobilization
Social media is powerful. And we cannot over-emphasize its importance. The protests gained momentum when it gathered more followers on Twitter and Facebook. Twitter was a formidable force throughout the physical protests as venues and other general information were conveyed online.
Daily activities were also well documented on social media. The trending hashtags created awareness in the international community. In addition, Nigerians in the diaspora also organized peaceful protests as well.
3. Nigerians are tired of being cowed
Despite 60 years of independence, the nation is still struggling to provide basic amenities for its citizens. The people are frustrated about this and many other issues.
In the past, people have been called cowards because they do not fight for their rights. Their anger made them come out en masse to protest against police brutality.
For most, the protests meant more than just speaking up against the dastardly acts of SARS operatives. Rather, it was an amalgamation of many episodes of dissatisfaction with the government for its six decades of bad leadership.
4. Nigerians are generous people
Many contributed to the welfare of the protesters. There were donations from various individuals and organizations. Feminist Coalition – one of the advocates of the protests – ensured that the funds they gathered were efficiently utilized.
On the protest grounds, people supported and looked out for each other. Protesters found themselves running from harm’s way when hoodlums attacked. Inevitably, valuables were lost in the ensuing mayhem. However, people were quickly reunited with their belongings. Given the multitude present at any given point in time, there was minimal loss of personal property.
There was also the case of a lady at one of the protest venues who got donations for an artificial leg. This sheer generosity to a fellow citizen cannot be overlooked.
5. Accountability is easy
The Feminist Coalition proved that being accountable to the people is not a herculean task. They made an account of every kobo donated towards the protests.
There was a swift response to every emergency call. When thugs disrupted the protests in Ikeja and Abuja which led to some protesters sustaining injuries; those injured quickly got medical attention. Lawyers were also hired to see that arrested protesters were released accordingly.
The Feminist Coalition serves as a worthy example of a government that is accountable to its people. This is one of the characteristics of a good government that Nigeria is still finding difficult to learn.
6. The government is unreceptive to opposition
The protests were peaceful till the government got involved. They devised a means to disband the protesters. Thugs were still sent to disrupt their activities. Yet the youths remained defiant with their demand. Hence, they came out daily in large numbers.
Despite the attack by the thugs, the protesters were not deterred. Their resilience was unmatched until armed soldiers were sent to forcefully end the protests at the Lekki toll gate on October 20, 2020. Shots were fired and lives were reportedly lost.
Who sent the soldiers to shoot at the unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate is still a question on the lips of many. Will the truth be unraveled? Time will tell.
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