₦airaland Forum

Protest is one of the ways used by citizens to draw the attention of the government to pressing issues that are not being appropriately addressed. Most of the demands of the organizers of the #FearlessInOctober protest have either been resolved or are being addressed while others are not in the best interest of the country. Moreover, protests in Nigeria that are tagged as peaceful often end with some elements of violence, leading to disruptions of economic activities and loss of lives and property; the #EndBadGovernance protest is an example. In this light, there was no need for the protest.

The federal government has commenced paying the new national minimum wage, and therefore state governments and members of the organized private sector who have not started should follow suit. It’s important that government enforces it. The national minimum wage has a multiplier effect on the economy; it will boost employee productivity, reduce brain drain, and stimulate demand for goods and services. For some time now, many businesses have been struggling in Nigeria, with many going under due to low sales stemming from the low disposable income of the Nigerian worker.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria's headline inflation on a year-on-year basis has eased for two consecutive months; dropping to 33.40% from 34.19% in July, 2024 and dropping further to 32.15% in August,2024.The drop in July, 2024 was the first time since December,2022. While this is commendable, the government is not resting on its oars, as it recently raised the Monetary Policy Rate by 50 basis points to 27.25%. I expected this rate hike in light of the new national minimum wage implementation.

In a bid to eliminate banditry and terrorism in the northwest of the country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently ordered the Chief of Defence Staff and Minister of State for Defence to relocate to Sokoto State. This move has already yielded remarkable results. The federal government has also deployed 10,000 agro rangers to safeguard farmlands and protect farmers from escalating attacks in 19 states of the country. In an effort to curb oil theft, the Chief of Defence Staff recently inaugurated a joint monitoring team to enhance military operations in the South-South region of the country. Generally, the level of insecurity across the country has dropped significantly, but there is still much to be done and the government is aware.


The request for the reversal of the removal of the fuel subsidy is retrogressive. This government has decided to do things differently in order to achieve better results. Yes, it has resulted in a hike in the cost of transportation; therefore, to alleviate this, the government has started distributing CNG buses and conversion kits across the country, with CNG tricycles to be distributed to youth in the pipeline. CNG is a much cheaper alternative to PMS whose price is expected to drop when domestic refineries come fully on due to economies of scale, competition, and the envisaged increase in the value of the naira due to reduced FOREX pressure.

The government has frequently stated its commitment to reducing the cost of governance. However, the recent purchase of a new presidential jet has led people to question its commitment to this cause. The presidency needed a reliable aircraft, which is also more cost-effective than chartering aircraft and frequently maintaining old ones. President Tinubu gave a directive to reduce the size of the Nigeria’s delegation to the just concluded United Nations General Assembly as a sign of his administration’s commitment to reducing the cost of governance.

People have the right to protest as long as it is peaceful; however, the #FearlessInOctober protest was unnecessary as most of the demands made have been overtaken by events. It is also worthy to note that some of the arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters have been released. Protest is not the only way to make our voices heard, nor is it the most effective.

emkz:
Like EndSARS, like August protests.

While some protested and gave their lives, others were making money at the expense of the foolish.

emkz:
The first protest failed on the first day.

The following were achieved:

(1) On the first day, arson commenced.

(2) People's private properties were bungled

(3) More than 16 persons died and until today, no one knows their names, visited their families or provided support. They died wastefully.

(4) Some folks flew Russian flags and asked for regime change. Some outrightly said they wanted one of those roundly defeated.

(5) The people of the southeast chose not to be part of it as they quickly realized they were being set up to take the blame.

(6) Despite some urchins using machete to cut traffic light, some tribalists attempted to rope in those from outside their state. No one believed them.

(7) When the protesters became rioters, the arrowheads lost control and started begging the president to give a speech to appease the protesters.

What exactly did the August protest/riots accomplish? Which of their demands were met?

The proposed October riots will fail again.

A protest is expected to be organic, with people united with a common ideology. That ideology is the driver and motivation. But there are disparate ideologies as follows:

(1) Some used the protest to throw tantrums over the heavy defeat in 2023.

(2) Some wanted to be compensated with funds, contracts and a seat on the table.

(3) Some wanted to use protests for local and international fame.

(4) Most wanted regime change.

jmoore:
It flopped because the vultures who linked Peter Obi to the first protest have learned their lessons. They made a mistake by advertising the first protest when they started blackmailing Obi as the leader of the protest. This time, their hired dogs didn't mention Obi, thereby making the protest to have less publicity.

Hotexplorers:
Simply put.. because the Yoruba were not in support… I mean when it was during GEJ time even tinubu was part of occupy Nigeria and we had Oshiomole of NLC then… But today, the yorubas are very bias and will do everything within their power to ensure their son remains….

Well, every mallam to him own kettle

Golan007:
We should protest the release of Akpi.

LegendHero:
It flopped majorly because of apathy. People know protest won’t solve the structural problem.

Also, protest in Nigeria is never genuine, it is an avenue for some people to become rich, blackmail the government, get paid behind, and lead frustrated youths to the street without any plan.

Check the October protest demands, most of them are impossible to execute even in 3 years. How can you demand almost 50 things in a protest.

emkz:
It is no longer news that the #FearlessinOctober protests failed.

Why?

This article chronicles the reasons for the failure of the #FearlessinOctober protests.



https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/10/06/why-the-october-protest-flopped/

emkz:
It is no longer news that the #FearlessinOctober protests failed.

Why?

This article chronicles the reasons for the failure of the #FearlessinOctober protests.



https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/10/06/why-the-october-protest-flopped/

emkz:
It is no longer news that the #FearlessinOctober protests failed.

Why?

This article chronicles the reasons for the failure of the #FearlessinOctober protests.



https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/10/06/why-the-october-protest-flopped/

LegendHero:
Peter Obi is a boy.

Stop mentioning that boy when we are discussing about men and protest.

Medipharm:
And you are a baby trying to measure up with who is far miles away from you.
Political jobber