Built2last:
How do we Maximize this Protest?

Before they install a curfew, unleash the military, or we begin to lose focus, momentum or before division lines appear (which we prayerfully forbid); how do we make this a once in a life time opportunity? These are my two cents on a potential strategy:

We need a central coordinating office (strategy/war room), were data is collated, analyzed, policies papers are being crafted and extensive engagements are on-going with local and international parties. Governance is cerebral and deep work. Protest can be a trigger but cannot deliver development on its own. You can't just keep saying, it doesn't matter, that's a sign of our inexperience. The elite always run things, since Jesus time and to become one comes at a price, sometimes generations.

You want to fix the police? Do you know how great Nigeria's police force once was? Even SSS came out of it. We should be crafting and recommending for: recruitment (hire best brains from Uni's in sociology, psychology, criminology etc.); training (ask United Nations for literature and facilitators, they have stuff); welfare (open our own account + government to fix police barracks, children's schools, insurance etc.) and put records in public domain; technology (hire programmers to join the force, drones etc). Guys change is work, not energy alone !!!

Anyway, here are the two cents I first mentioned:

1. Let’s have a vision and end goal, I recommend we address the fundamentals:

a. Demand to change faulty areas of Nigeria’s constitution and update a new one immediately. We will write every clause using social media and blockchain technology – ranking and voting each point like we voted with Big Brother. The process should be aired on National TV with experts invited to present on key areas first (i.e. educate us) after which we all vote from our mobile phones. The process should run as long as is required. This may be a long process but potentially powerful. Some key areas to consider in the new constitution:

i. Re-structure the three tiers of governments and increase autonomy and revenue allocations to local governments (they should have the highest share) – so just like estate associations (which are quite effective), every community will determine the quality of its roads, hospitals, schools, *security* and other social amenities at the *grassroot level* Or don’t you notice how effective vigilantes or how those expensive estates in Lekki are managed or the 24-hour light situation in some areas of Lagos now based on special arrangements? You will feel this impact directly and immediately! A good amount of our budget goes towards servicing the welfare of the Federal Government officials, its ineffective civil service, legislators and other inefficient processes.

ii. *Let’s collect the local government at least* – we should then ask for an immediate reset of all local governments and that new elections be held for same. *So we shift power to the grassroots and then take over from there.* If we can manage the protest funds well, we can do better at Local Government level.

b. Demand for good governance from State Governors –

i. Demand the immediate establishment of independent auditors in each state going forward. We want every dime now accounted for and the size of contract verified. Give them 2 months to do this otherwise, re-start the protest at your state governors’ offices.

ii. *State and Local Governments hold the keys to your immediate improvement in the quality of your life and welfare. Federal is long term and too far. Do you know, a small state in the South West, with less than 5m people is collecting oil allocation of N1.5bn every month (yes, every month) and there is no light in that community? Do you know what that money would do to even the neighboring states? Some Governors do not even spend up to 2 weeks in their states, and when they come in, it’s just to ask the Accountant General to disburse funds to A, B, C. How many Governors sit down in their offices and do deep work, scrutinizing policies, engaging permanent secretaries in cerebral work, seeking solutions etc. Very few. Most of what they do is just campaigning and running around Abuja for 2023.

c. Demand the legislature should become a part time job immediately and their salaries only cover basic expenses (cut salaries to a tithe of the current figure). Give them their own KPIs also.

d. Demand the restructuring of the Federal civil service and key institutions like NNPC etc. – they should now all have targets, minimum service delivery levels (e.g. let me be able to get a driver’s license in 24hours like an ATM card, which you can currently receive immediately at a bank) and their number of civil servants rationalized (i.e. justify that everyone is working for his/her pay). Agency heads and permanent secretaries that fail to meet their annual targets be dismissed. Over 50% of Nigeria’s budget goes to the pocket of civil servants (reoccurring expenditure) and for CAPEX (roads, public amenities etc.) they embezzle between 30 – 50% of these funds. *Civil servants are more dangerous than politicians. While Civil servants may have fixed salaries, they have budgets for running their offices – this is usually unaccounted for an in some cases unlimited.

2. Now to fix Nigeria long term – register a NEW political party and operationalize immediately – Proposed name GenerationXYZParty (representing the three abandoned generations (XYZ), who didn’t taste the good old Nigeria). Use technology and Unique IDs (BVN) for virtual party elections. 2023 is far, but we can begin to build momentum and prepare ourselves – this is our long-term strategy.

3. Let’s cover our backs:

a. Let’s try if we can win over the military to stay neutral for their own good also – a lot of them are dying on the battlefield anyway and this could be their path to freedom also. Let’s focus on the middle and lower ranking officers.

b. Same for police and other security agencies; let our placards read – “we are fighting for you too, don’t be deceived, if you end this protest, your lives will remain the same.”

c. Let’s keep hospitals, markets and other essential services safe and accessible but target areas that concern the elite.

4. Let’s organize and keep the momentum:

a. Let’s have a new single umbrella - #resetnigeria and focus on the constitution and local governance (state and local levels).

b. We have the numbers and can take turns to continue to protest indefinitely until our demands are met – we all pick a day during the week, and everyone comes out to protest in line with same.

Protests are like fire – they can cook your food or burn your house. While we may desperately want change, if we don’t structurally protest, we will throw the country into anarchy or the government goes more brutal. Most Arab spring countries are still yet to benefit from their revolutions. Even if we change Buhari, the new President will come and use this faulty constitution and without a law – it will be chaos.

The best revolution is active engagement within the law – that is why our focus should be changing the law (our constitution). …

God bless the Protest and Godbless Nigeria

#ENDSARSNOW
#endswat
#RestructureNigeriaNow
#RegionalismorNothing

E.T