Protest, But In Your State

There has been argument for and against the planned protest by the so-called disgruntled Nigerians who claim they want to #EndBadGovernance. Rightly so, protest is entrenched in our sacrosanct constitution as a fundamental human right. However, it must be stressed that the fundamental human rights entrenched in the constitution provide for equal rights of individuals. The rights of an individual or group of individuals do and should not impugn on the rights of others. This, by implication, suggests that your right as an individual should NOT infringe on my right as another individual.

If your rights will put my rights or livelihood into jeopardy, then I have equal right to stop you with everything in me. The right to protest does not give room for wanton destruction, arson, and needless killing as experienced in 2020 during the #EndSARS saga. The questions I still could not find answers to till today are;

1. What has police brutality got to do with the biggest DNA facility in sub-Sahara West Africa built by the Lagos State Government burnt down by arsonists?
2. What has police brutality got to do with the TVC News building set on fire?
3. What has police brutality got to do with the attack on Oriental Hotels?
4. What has police brutality got to do with attack on bank premises?
5. What has police brutality got to do with looting of private business stores and supermarkets?
6. What has police brutality got to do with burning of BRT buses worth over N3bn?

Today, of the 36 States of the Federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 14 of them are yet to pay even the 2019 minimum wage. The Minimum Wage Act of 2019, which introduced the N30,000 wage, is still not implemented in about half of the States of the Federation.

Funnily and quite ridiculously, of all the States which are yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage threshold, no State, not even one is from the South West! E shock you? Here’s a list of the States which are yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage threshold;

South East

1. Abia
2. Anambra
3. Enugu
4. Imo

South South

1. Bayelsa
2. Delta

North Central

1. Benue
2. Nasarawa
3. Niger

North East

1. Adamawa
2. Borno
3. Gombe
4. Taraba

North West

1. Sokoto

From above data, we have 4 States from the South East, 2 States from the South South, 3 States from the North Central, 4 States from the North East and 1 State from the North West. The question then is, why is the fixation on Lagos State as the epicentre of this coordinated plot to throw the country into needless conflagration? Why can’t they leave Lagos State alone and return to their various states?

If we are clamouring to nip bad governance in the bud, isn’t it logical to have such protest taken to our various state governors whose state monthly allocations have increased by at least 45% in the last one year with nothing to show for it by these state emperors?

Nobody is saying people should not protest, but let them take their protest to their various states. Lagos is on a trajectory of positive rebirth and new waves. And we say no to protest. If you insist, be ready for the woto-woto because Èkó ò gbọdọ̀ bàjẹ́.

Èkó ò ní gbà ‘gbàkugbà

OMOGBOLAHAN L.A BABAWALE
O’CZAR