Nigerians have become victims of bad leadership and the country’s security operatives have become tools of oppression against the people.
Former president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, defined democracy as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Nigeria seems to be practicing the exact opposite of that definition.
Lekki Toll Gate Protest
The planned protest by the citizens against the reopening of the Lekki Toll Gate ā where unarmed citizens were massacred by the Nigerian army on October 20, 2020 – came with a lot of expectations. Before the protest, one of the youth representatives at the judicial panel, Rinu Oduala, pulled out due to the insincerity of the government.
The people demanded justice for the lives that were lost at Lekki Toll gate last year. Without fully meeting the demands of the people, the government made a decision to reopen the toll gate. The youths defied the governmentās ban and still turned up to protest peacefully.
Read Also: Widespread Agitation On The Reopening Of The Lekki Toll Gate
Unsurprisingly, the government was prepared to deal with any citizen that dared to defy its order. A day before the planned protest, scores of security operatives manned the toll gate.
Government and its misplaced priorities
On the same day that security operatives were deployed to prevent the planned protest; some areas in Oyo State (Ojoo in Ibadan especially) were in chaos.
The government has not been successful in putting an end to the dastardly acts of the Fulani herdsmen. In retaliation, some youths took laws into their hands.
It will be recalled that Sunday Igboho gave the Fulani herdsmen an ultimatum to vacate the forests in Oyo State. While the government is taking too long to restore peace, more chaos ensues.
Some Yoruba youths went on rampage by asking people to identify themselves. And as a result, many non-Yorubas were killed and burnt in broad day light and others were terribly injured.
Inhumane treatment by security operatives
Back at Lekki toll gate, security operatives arrested forty peaceful protesters and restricted their freedom for hours. Popular comedian, ‘Debo Adedayo also known as Mr. Macaroni was one of those arrested.
According to Mr. Macaroni, they were stripped, beaten and threatened. He also maintains that the security operatives had said that ‘those arrested would have been killed if they had been arrested at night’.
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This is the sad reality for many who dare to exercise their fundamental human right. After calls from persons of influence, the protesters were later released.
A disrespectful democracy
It appears that the government only needs the people when it is time for election. It is a right of the people to protest peacefully and to devalue lives for protesting is quite appalling.
The government might have succeeded in halting yet another peaceful protest. Nevertheless, it has not killed the spirit of the protesters.
Furthermore, the government should channel its efforts on the right path. The unrest in Oyo State must be addressed and that is where the security operatives are needed. Not at the Lekki toll gate where the people have a record of protesting peacefully.
For a nation to succeed, the strategy is simple. The government must focus on building and empowering its people because people make a nation.
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