#ENDBADGOVERNACE PROTEST: Avoiding The Rwanda Gate

Between April to July 1994, almost a 1000 Rwandans died from a genocide orchestrated by the majority Hutu tribe against her Tutsi minority brothers. This scenario is adjudged globally as worst man “inhumanity to man” given cruel nature of blood spillage which characterized the African nation predominantly of women and children demography.

The genocide was conceived and executed by extremist elements of Rwanda’s Hutu majority who planned to kill minority Tutsi population and anyone who opposed their genocidal intentions. It is believed that some estimated 200,000 Hutu, spurred on by propaganda from various media outlets participated in the genocide which crumbled both socioeconomic and political prosperity of Rwanda for decades.

Like the Hutus spurred by media propaganda against her Tutsi minority brothers, many Nigerians in this context are propelled by insecurity, unemployment, ravaging hunger, high inflation, infrastructural deficit amongst others to express themselves in a planned nationwide protest. These protesters alleges that statuesque policies in Nigeria are at dagger head with the masses with no thanks to official corruption. It is worrisome to note also that recent economic realities has led to torn families, Morale subjugations with looming existential threat on a supposedly united entity.

Though the motivation for #ENDGOVERNANCEPROTEST# appears people-centric and patriotic further eliciting public empathy, it does not obliterate interrogation as it remains to be seen it human face. This school of thought is predicated on the negative impact of 2020 EndSars protest which had far reaching consequences on both government and privately owned assets. These fears of repeat trajectory re-echoes in the time stipulation for the protest as it is common knowledge that it is billed to commence from 1-10 August, 2024. According to analyst, this elongated demonstration like the Trojan horse will affect free flow of traffic and crumbled commercial activities in the country. A supposed peaceful demonstration by all standard does not require multitude of days to communicate it intensions. Otherwise, a different motif be underneath. Secondly, Leadership of said planned protest seems elusive as it sponsors are relatively unknown.  They should be identified with express undertaking on privileges and responsibilities in the event of breakdown of law and order.  Note that while citizens have constitutional rights to associate, movement including peaceful expression of ill feelings to constituted authority especially, extend of their rights are determined by extant laws.

Lastly, Nigerians must close ranks in finding a common ground from her milieu of challenges as strangulating an Oxygen economy does more harm than good on developmental indices. Presidency like a caring father should lead by addressing concerns of citizens including  explaining government policy thrust with a view to earn confidence, followership and mutual cohesion for growth. Only by so doing will Nigeria avoid the catastrophic ‘Rwanda gate’.