There has been an ongoing protest in Nigeria for days now, and it is shocking how it has unfolded. One major issue in Nigeria is division, which has been an ongoing problem for a long time and seems to continue. This division is one of the biggest challenges in our country, alongside poverty, which is also heavily exploited by our government. Poverty is a major reason why there is so much disunity in our nation. It's easy for the government to manipulate a significant portion of the population by offering money. A clear example of this was when the government mobilized some individuals to protest against the ongoing protest, which was the first time I have witnessed such a situation, where it's obvious what is wrong and what is right.
Is it not madness and selfishness to protest against the current state of our economy? Even before the news came out that the government paid those who protested, it was clear that only a mad person would be comfortable with this situation. Poverty is a weapon used against us in this country, and tribalism is the second largest weapon creating division. I don't believe this country can work based on the evidence from the past and current events. We inject tribalism into everything and base our judgments on it.
The state of madness
In the previous regime, led by Buhari, who is Hausa, the country's reserves were depleted during his 8-year tenure. He also spent a lot of time traveling for health checkups. The state of the economy was poor, leading to protests in which many youths lost their lives. It was evident that most Hausas did not join the protest because Buhari was from their tribe. There wasn't unity in challenging the government. A similar situation is happening now, with Yoruba people protesting while Hausas are actively protesting, destroying, and looting public property. However, the Yoruba and the Igbos are not protesting; one tribe is supporting their leader, and the other is angry.
If it is the Igbos who are in power, it is obvious that they will not join the protest. This happens all the time because we practice a rotational system of power where different tribes rule the country every 4 to 8 years. When it is your tribe's turn to rule, you may support them regardless of whether they are right, believing it is your people's turn. Not everybody in the country thinks this way, but those who have the country's best interest at heart are few. A small percentage of the population truly wants the country to succeed, while the remaining population are often sentimental in their judgment, whether for money or for the tribe. This is a challenge that cannot be easily changed.
Divided or united
During the #EndSARS protest, we almost united against our government but didn't quite achieve it. Nevertheless, we were able to accomplish a lot by keeping the government on their toes. It's clear that division is a significant issue in our country, with many states not even protesting. This lack of unity allowed the president to remain silent on the current state of the economy. We need to come together as one to see real change. Setting aside our differences and fighting for what's right is crucial; otherwise, we're just wasting our time.
Thanks for your time.
