President Buhari is the very last human being once peaceful protesters, turned angry mob, want to listen to.
―Ebuka Onyekwelu
The end SARS campaign has been on for about the third week now. Throughout the first and second weeks of the protest, it went on smoothly and extraordinarily peaceful to the utter chagrin of those who expect so little of Nigerian youth.
Clearly, President Buhari who once referred to Nigerian youth as “lazy”, may as well be shocked at the level of coordination and relentless persistent with which the protesters carried on until thugs and miscreants were introduced to discredit the protest. Immediately, things started unfolding so fast that on Tuesday night, peaceful protesters were ambushed at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, leading to nationwide spontaneous violence and vandalism.
Throughout these days and weeks, many people have wondered why the President has not addressed Nigerians. Up till today, there are several people still calling on the President to address Nigerians. I mean, should it not come naturally to the President to talk to Nigerians, before now? Some commentators have called on the President to talk to Nigerian youths as his own children, while others disagree insisting that Nigerian youths are not Buhari’s children that he is the President and should talk to Nigerians as their president. One thing has remained unclear as far as the value on President Buhari’s address is concerned; what impact would the president address make? Not many are asking this all important question.
what impact would the president address make? Not many are asking this all important question.
To buttress, leadership is not a spontaneous game and the level of one’s influence is directly proportional to the degree of social capital he or she has amassed over the years, for showing leadership. Defending the weak, promoting people oriented policies, lifting people from bad economic conditions, and being utterly consumed by the troubles of the people he leads.
In the past five years plus that President Buhari has been leading the country, what difference has his leadership made on the people of Nigeria since coming to power.? How many Nigerians are doing better than they were doing before Buhari’s presidency? Are Nigerians now more secured than they were? These are, I suppose, some of the critical issues that naturally bequeaths massive social capital which makes for a leader to exercise considerable level of influence over the people he leads. But if it happens, as it is abundantly evident, that President Buhari has not done much to make the lives of Nigerians any better since assuming office, why do we think that suddenly, whatever he may has to say to abused, brutalized and victimized Nigerian youth, matters?
For the purposes of my argument, if it is the case that President Buhari just wants to talk for the sake of fulfilling all righteousness, just for talking sake, then, it is totally okay, after all, many Nigerians may not even care to listen to what he has to say. This is the fact. But if it is for him to address Nigerians perhaps, as part of the solution to the already bad situation that was only escalated by the Lekki events on Tuesday night, then, we are probably merely being dramatic. This is for the simple fact that as of today, President Buhari is the very last human being once peaceful protesters, turned angry mob, want to listen to. And this is not without reasons.
Already, anarchy looms and there are severe consequences on all sides.
The sudden decision by the President to address Nigerians this evening is not surprising. Already, anarchy looms and there are severe consequences on all sides. So let us say that it took the president about three weeks to be convinced that Nigerians deserve to be talked to, by him. The implication is that the people are governed by a president that does not take them seriously. This also speaks to the place of young Nigerians in the scheme of things. Perhaps the protest was ignored because it was championed by young people. However, what is certain and unequivocal is that the government of Nigeria led by President Buhari, so far has not only missed the chance to show the people of Nigeria that government can do better, but has also sent a strong message to the people of Nigeria that they do not matter, by ignoring the protest for weeks until it spiraled out of control.
As can be predicted, although a self acclaimed democrat, President Buhari is far more detached from democratic tenets and this reflects in his leadership style. Hence, he mostly ignores dissents, perhaps, on the assumption that they do not count. Just may be his address this night will contain some sugarcoat and pretend moral suasion, but then a few orders and a promise to clampdown on protesters.
Nigerian government has lost so many opportunities to earn the trust of the masses. The President’s address to the people of Nigeria will only solve problems if the people are convinced that the President is doing all he can do to avail them the best Nigeria can afford for her people. Under the prevailing circumstance where the President or even the government is seen as an enemy of the people, it goes without saying that the President’s address will have no significant impact on the rampaging mobs.
The address will not also solve the problem of police brutality which has become recurrent, if not entrenched in Nigeria’s policing architecture. President Buhari’s address will not solve any problem in connection to the end SARS campaign simply because, the people that are suppose to listen and act based on the message, are not interested in what their president has to say. However, the President can go ahead to address Nigerians, even though his address does not really matter to Nigerians.
♦ Ebuka Onyekwelu, strategic governance exponent, is a columnist with the WAP
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