#ENDSARS: Political Solutions Vs Revolution.

By Ifeanyi Obute

Currently, #EndSARS campaign has been raging consistently for over two weeks now.

It all started as a peaceful protest when the dreaded Police Tactical Unit, shot an unarmed boy in Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria.

But prior to that, SARS has been known for their excess use of force, which sometimes borders on outright criminalities on their part. Cases of their high-handed recklessness abounds. Indeed, SARS in Nigeria, could be literally likened to Talibans in Afghanistan. They were real terror to Nigerian youths, especially the middle and low class citizens.

When the video clip of the horrific Ughelli incident went viral on the internet, #EndSARS also started trending on the internet. Within a very short space of time, Nigerian internet space became replete with the hashtag, “EndSARS.” And to add impetus to it, it started trending abroad too.

With the overwhelming internet publicity, on 7th of October, Nigerian Youths, who are mostly the victims and targets of the SARS excess brutalities, started coming out to street. Lagos and Abuja quickly became the hotspots of the peaceful protest.

Meanwhile, the Buhari led administration failed to act immediately. Hence, the protest started disseminating to other Nigerian States and cities. When the protesters, who are overwhelmingly youths, refused to disperse like before, the leadership of the Nigerian Police Force first announced that all personnel of the Tactical Unit are being recalled from all forms of routine patrols and highway operations. That their freedom of operation is being curtailed. The announcement was calculated to assuage the feelings of the protesters, and thereby, get them off the streets, but it didn’t work. The protests gained momentum instead.

The firm resolve of the protesting youths shocked the Government beyond measures, such a dogged Spirit has never been witnessed in Nigeria. The legitimately defiant nature of the youths, compelled the Government to announce a complete scrapping and dismantling of SARS, with immediate effect!

THE DEMAND OF THE PROTESTERS HAS BEEN MET, SO THEY ARE EXPECTED TO VACATE THE STREETS; BUT STILL, THEY REMAINED ADAMANT, INSISTING THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE SEEN IMPLEMENTED; that similar announcements have been made in the past.

Meanwhile, the Police immediately announced a new tactical team: SWAT, as a replacement. The announcement irked the protesters so very much that the hashtag and placards started asking for SWAT to wait till all the disbandment process of SARS is over. It is at this point that the Government refused to bulge again. Hence, a stalemate that saw the protesters occupying strategic positions in Lagos and Abuja.

Their continued occupation of the streets, coupled with the deteriorating state of affairs in Nigeria, led to a huge widening of their demands, such that hashtags EndBadGovernance, EndSWAT, EndCorruption etc, started trending also. The protesters, especially in the Southern States of Nigeria, vowed never to back down until palpable redresses from the Government is underway. The dreadlock continued till the 20th of October 2020, at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos State, it struck!

State Security Operatives, stormed the vicinity of the peaceful protesters, turned off all lights and CCTV cameras, and pelted the protesters with live armour. There were multiple casualties, but as a result of many conflicting accounts, no unanimous figure has been agreed upon. Amnesty international said at least 12, BBC reported 20, some witnesses reported as far as 78 etc.

But as usual, Nigerian authorities, despite overwhelming evidence on the contrary, denied ever being involved.

The incident now elicited outbursts of violence across Nigeria, in form of solidarity with the fallen heroes of Lekki tollgate. There’s been outbursts of carnage, killings by the security operatives, lootings, vandalism etc.

THE CONTINUED VIOLENCE HAS LED TO THIS ALL IMPORTANT QUESTION; IS REVOLUTION THE WAY TO GO, OR A CAREFULLY ARTICULATED POLITICAL SOLUTIONS?

But before an attempt on the above question, it’s very crucial to point out that the current Government of Muhammadu Buhari misunderstood the demands of Nigerian youths. It’s either the Government chose to deliberately misunderstand, or they inadvertently misunderstood the true demands of the Nigerian Youths.

It was never just about SARS or police brutality alone; for that is just one out of the myriads of serious problems bedeviling Nigeria.In the ongoing protests across Nigeria, particularly in the South, #EndSARS, in Naval warfare terminologies, could be likened as a Flagship in a fleet of other ships; where the collective fleet could be represented as bad governance. Hence, the overall major  demand of the protesters is for a complete end to bad governance in Nigeria!

Now that the chief demand of the protesters have not been met, what next? Should the street protests continue just like it was before? Or, should it snowball into full revolution since the Government is not the listening type? Or, should the Youths adopt a political process that would terminate the protests, hence, avoid the possible scenarios for more violence and bloodshed?

All the options have their cons and pros. But, the wisest should be the one that would yield timely and the required results, with the least possible collateral damage. And, that would be a POLITICAL SOLUTION!

Such a political solution must hinge on the tripod of collectivity, consistency and unanimity of efforts and demands, via lobbying, advocacy moves and pushes, online campaigns,careful articulation of agendas in a sequential format etc. With a persistent push, which will anchor on the overwhelming majority of the Nigerian youths, our demands would be achieved.

The protests has yielded a far reaching result because the political and socioeconomic consciousness of an average Nigerian youth has been perpetually reconfigured. It’s now time to back up the achievements of the protests with persistent political moves.

Revolution would be very bloody, and the end result can not be guaranteed to come out as required.

Obute Ifeanyi writes from Enugu. He’s a public affairs analyst, and also the SouthEast coordinator of a Civil Society Organization: Eyes on Democracy of Nigeria, EDON. 08035087201. ifecojp@gmail.com.