SOME LESSONS FROM SUDAN - #RevolutionNow is on its way

Omar al-Bashir was the seventh President of Sudan from 1989 to 2019 (thirty years). He came to power in 1989 when, as a brigadier in the Sudanese Army, he led a military coup that ousted the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Sadiq al-Mahdi. Since that time, he was "elected" three times as President in elections that were judged fraudulent.

From December 2018 onwards, al-Bashir faced large-scale protests which demanded his removal from power. On 11 April 2019, al-Bashir was ousted in a military coup d'état.

The brave people of Sudan, insisted on their right to good governance. They empowered and encouraged themselves with the political philosophy of the Right of Revolution (or Right of Rebellion) which is the right or DUTY of the people of a nation to overthrow a government that acts against their common interests and/or threatens the safety of the people without cause. So when a government becomes the enemy of the people through things like corruption, impunity, ineptitude, lawlessness by not obeying court orders etc, rigged itself into power, encourages or turns a blind eye to killing of its citizens - THEN IT HAS BREACHED THE SOCIAL CONTRACT encapsulated within the Constitution, of maintaining the people's safety, and working for the people's welfare, so it becomes an ILEGITIMATE government and must be removed (if it refuses to reform).

In just EIGHT months of regular but mass and nation-wide protests the people of Sudan, despite tear-gas and several of them being killed by security forces, successfully removed al-Bashir. Then today (17th August 2019) Sudan's military council and protest leaders signed a "Constitutional Declaration" that opens the way for a transition to civilian rule. The transitional governing council, the Sovereign Council, is a power sharing deal, will be made up of six civilians and five military officers. This is the first stage.

Already the Alliance for Freedom and Change (ALC), the spearhead of protests and the country's main opposition alliance, nominated Mr Mohammed Abdallah Hamdok, a former UN economist, to become Prime Minister. The Sovereign Council is due to announce in a few days time if it will confirm him in this position. Hamdok is supported by the protesters and people. The new transitional government will be in place for three years to allow a new people's Constitution to be prepared, then Sudan move to full civilian and democratic rule. The new Constitution will bring in much needed SYSTEMS CHANGE . There will then be a general election.

Sudanese people will not just sit down, but will continue to make sure that the military and the corrupt do not regain power to reinstate corruption and bad government. Their protests is the use of people power to remind bad leadership that it is the people who have sovereignty, and they will protest again if the need arises.

The overthrow of the corrupt and inept government of al-Bashir started because the cost of bread was increased to an unacceptable level. This hike in price was the straw that broke the camel's back and Sudanese realised that a government that does not care about them but just wanted power for self-enrichment, would keep on terrorising them, and it was now time to remove such a stubborn government that refused to reform by listening to the people, or to resign and leave.

People of Sudan had to fight for themselves. There was no magic or miracle. Just normal protests as is done all over the world. Nigerians, GIANT of Africa, what are we waiting for? Nigerians, get off your fu*king butt and stop trying to get someone else to fight for what you will enjoy!

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