(Why Nigeria needs a revolution)
By: Seye Fakinlede
Pardon if this is not another pleonastic piece to rant on our poor governance, education, medical facilities, infrastructures and all other blah blah blah familiar woes.
In March 23, 1991, the Revolutionary United Force, (RUF) with the support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia intervened in Sierra Leone to overthrow the government of Joseph Momoh. The war, according to Wikipedia lasted for 11-years, leaving over 50,000-300,000 dead and over a million internally displaced.
These “change advocates” irrespective of their ages , joined the RUF movement because they grew tired of the docility and found a discomfort in the constant fetor of corruption, mismanagement , electoral violence, and a collapse in their educational sector.
While this may sound and look familiar in the Nigerian sphere, the thought of police tear gassing, endless court sittings, detentions, which is a case of striking the sheep and see the flock scatter, are several ways to maim our armies and remove the tooth of our venomous vipers.
Recently, I came across essays written by The Late Blessed Jacob-J.S Odulate, essays way back to 1920s especially one titled, “African Shall Rise-When? There, he addressed a series of issues ravaging the African continent from selfishness to a projectile of other sadden issues, and in retrospection, these issues are uncommon to the shores of 60-years-old Nigeria.
Similarly, while a Ghanaian merchant was coating our linking plastic GP tank, I quizzed him about the Ghanaian Revolution which was becoming like a fawning story because of the dauntless and chivalry approach of most Ghanaians that have been widely rumored, and to my amazement, he affirmed.
It has been a long aged question of why we need a revolution, and even the emphasis on now, but this innocent and timely question should have a time lapse( even though change is gradual, but with a persistence),- of when we need this revolution, how do we want the revolution, and who will lead the revolution.
It’s often said, that Nigerian youths should belong to a political party to drive change, but not in a system where the law isn’t supreme and a lot of ageists who wouldn’t want the fresh idea to see the light of the day.
I may be a mugwump concerning the Nigerian political parties but certainly not towards the truth, advocacy, and transparency should I see that in an individual.
Perhaps, before we talk on having a revolution or why we need a revolution, how fit are the revolutionary armies, how vast are they? How prepared are they? How angry are they? And are they not complacent beings who are waiting patiently for an Armageddon to wipe the bad eggs without lifting a finger or a voice?
It’s very common for the majority to join the bandwagon. And I must say, most people term for revolution is for a change of hands from old to young, or a split, a defection from one Political party to another. And to some quarters it is the secession of a people for the birth of an already named country existing breathlessly in a country.
Revolution is not just the pursuit for separation, because of an aged long wound in the bowels of a group for the pogrom, nor isn’t the Nigeria’s reluctance to granting a secession the type of needed revolution. Revolution is also not the powerless cliché of a change beginning with you. Revolution is breaking the chains of the demi-gods dictating the affairs of the country. So, how angry are we to achieve that?
Revolution comes from an angry soul. And we talk about it, when we are angry. Angry about corruption, tribalism, injustice, nepotism, opacity in governance, and a sit tight syndrome amongst the civilian representatives. Hike in education, and all.
But why can’t the revolution be about a change of political system to another, and agitation for the supremacy of the law? Yes, this is a vision too, a diminishing of quota system, incompetency.
Then we talk about when, “Now”, is a present state and that alone creates an ambiguity to our revolutionary period. Stating “Now” as a time frame has no specificity for a specific beginning neither for a specific ending. Although it gives the feeling of urgency, action, but it is only as powerful as it is written or spoken. For example, I want you to come ‘Now’. That is an urgent command, and all I can say is yes, and I might refuse to take steps to begin my advancing journey. I could argue of my business then-(which was that now) and procrastinate for another ‘Now”.
Then we determine how we want it. There are several ways to achieve ones motives, even though protest and strike is one, the other one is through force. Right from the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom suffered violence and the violence takes it by force.”
Now force is largely discouraged but necessary, and it’s seems to be the only language we’ve come to understand as a nation. Yet force isn’t all about blood shedding, but actionable decisions.
Perhaps the story of Rosa Parks might be handy here. Boycotting transport systems? Remember? Do we read? Not just a sector strike but a total national shut down of angry people. This does not involve violence but just a shut down, but would we?
Aside the independence granted that was on a platter of gold, as described by Chinua Achebe, the history of the nation’s change of governance has always been with force, which was what we witnessed during the military regime, and it is the only language we have understood.
But sadly, we forget the pre-colonial struggles and aims achieved by defiant Nigerians-individual and groups, to oppressive propagandas, and statutory bodies. I believe the lack of history- no, it is the boring presentation, or portraying these heroes from a religious lens in our school that has made many Nigerians see the stories of Aba woman riot, the Jaja of Opobo, King Overamme, Ogoni’s men, Madam Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, as societal nuisance rather than change agents who looked oppression in the face till change is seen. Now, I hear a whipping heart says but it was costly and many were killed. Yes, they were. Revolution is costly, it cost sweats, time, and life. So we must agree on if that’s what we want, remember “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. ”
So how do we want this revolution? While negotiation is like rubbing the palms to appease ones victimizers, force is taking up ones rights and demanding the necessities.
I must say that social media is giving the Nigerian keyboard warrior communities a global voice to propel a change, but what happens if these change advocates are summoned to show their faces?
Free press? Long detained journalists? policies on information deregulation? The gang of youths who would prefer to be used as thugs for electioneering manipulation? And no amount of hypocritical INEC jingles on vote buying to change the stony hearts to fleshy ones?
Aye! Zeus knows we are not angry enough for a change or revolution. Or are we? Why then do we need a revolution? I have digressed.
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