Nationwide Protest: NYA warns against unintended revolution, Libya, Kenya experiences

By: Austine Emmanuel, Kaduna

National Youth Alliance, (NYA) has warned against chaos and unintended revolution that may lead Nigeria to a regrettable situation, ahead of the Nationwide planned protests, commencing today.

The youth president and national chairman of NYA Ambassador Aliyu Bin Abbas, gave the warning during a national broadcast on Thursday morning, said that the youth group is in solidarity with Nigeria patriots to demand for good governance, but should be careful to avoid the repeatation of what happened in other African countries like Kenya and Libya.

Urging Nigerians to learn from the Libya and Kenya experiences, Abbas noted that Libya today remains in ruin as a result of violent protests while Kenya, although theirs yielded the results that they desire, yet there was the lost of life and properties.

Reiterating the need for youths to take every action with wisdom and carefulness, he stressed that wisdom can achieve in a time what a fool failed to achieve in an attempt of ten times.

On the part of government, Aliyu also demanded the immediate reversal of the price of petroleum products, amend the electoral act to mandate INEC to transmit results electronically, tackle the spate of insecurity across the country, declare a state of emergency on agricultural sector, reduce the cost of governance and commence the immediate registration of new political parties to ensure free and credible elections in subsequent exercises.

“The National Youth Alliance; stands in unwavering solidarity with you on this historic day, August 1, 2024, as you protest against the egregious policies of the government. We assert the constitutional right of citizens to peacefully express displeasure and demand that their voices be heard, loud and clear. For far too long, our Nation has suffered under the weight of corruption, mismanagement, and inefficiency.

“Our economy lies in tatters, our infrastructure is crumbling, and our people are suffering. We can no longer afford to stand idly by; while those in position of authority fail to act with the urgency and decisiveness required to address these pressing issues.

“We join you to demand a better future for ourselves, our children, and our Nation. We join you to demand for a government that is accountable to the people, a government that is transparent and responsive to our needs. We reiterate our call on the government and security agencies to respect citizens rights and protect the freedoms of Nigerians to peacefully express their discontent.

“We demand that no Nigerian be intimidated or bullied for exercising his democratic rights provided for in our constitution. We demand that no citizen should be silenced or deterred from expressing discontent with the status quo. At the same time, we urge the government and security agencies to protect the public and properties from the antics of sponsored thugs who may seek to hijack the peaceful protest by unleashing harms on peaceful protesters, loot properties and perpetrate criminality.

“These individuals aim to misrepresent the intent of Nigerians and derail the main objective of the protest. The NYA acknowledges the necessity of addressing Nigeria’s severe economic and social challenges.

However, it is crucial that any actions taken are rooted in wisdom and careful consideration. A wise person achieves with a fraction of the effort what a foolish person attempts with ten times the effort. Nigeria’s problems are complex and require equally nuanced solutions.

“Nigeria faces challenges both internal and external. Despite having leaders who have led the country into decline since independence, there has been no international intervention similar to the no-flyzone and regime change enforced in Libya. This raises the question: Who benefits from Nigeria’s dysfunction? The issues are not just internal; external factors also play a significant role.

“We caution against letting planned protests evolve into unplanned revolutions that could see Africa’s largest population become a new version of Libya. This could result in Nigeria disintegrating into factions of marauding ethnic militias fighting for control of resources, ultimately benefiting the same external shareholders of “Nigeria Ltd.” at half price or less.

“What began as protests in Libya evolved into a revolution and eventually resulted in a failed state. Thirteen years later, Libya remains in turmoil, far from what the protesters initially envisioned. This serves as a stark reminder that unplanned actions can lead to un-intended and disastrous outcomes.

“Recent protests in Kenya serve as a pertinent example. While these protests have yielded some positive results, they have also resulted in number of casualties and significant property damages. The NYA urges Nigeria’s to learn from Kenya’s experience.

“Although protests can be effective, they often come at a high cost. Nigeria’s are renowned worldwide for their intelligence and achievements. We must avoid reducing our selves to marauding protesters who turn to looters. Instead, we should approach our struggle with intelligence and wisdom to bear the fruits we desire.

“The term “African Spring” has been used to describe waves of change across the continent, but it is somewhat unfitting for Nigeria. Nigeria does not experience a spring season; it has a rainy season and a dry season. Thus, our movement for change should reflect our unique context. We can learn from the poorly executed transitions in other African and Middle Eastern regions. Nigeria’s change must be smoother and more impactful, using the power of the masses intelligently and efficiently to avoid turning a bad situation into a worse one.

“The NYA cautions against allowing planned protests to devolve into unplanned revolutions, which could lead Nigeria down a path of destruction. Instead, we advocate for actions that are well-thought-out and coordinated to avoid unnecessary collateral damage.

One effective strategy proposed is a continuation of two-week sit-at-home protests, over a period of months- a form of civil disobedience where citizens refrain from going to work or performing any duties. This approach requires coordination, solidarity, and discipline-qualities essential for the long-term improvement of Nigeria.

“Historical precedents demonstrate the power of civil disobedience. Gandhi used this approach to end colonial rule in India, and Martin Luther King Jr. successfully employed it during the American Civil Rights Movement.

“Civil disobedience is a formidable tactic that cannot easily be mischaracterized by the government as a campaign to destabilize Nigeria or as the actions of terrorist groups.

“The NYA also points out the inefficacy of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), an organization riddled with corruption and prosperity. Despite having the power to shut down the country through strikes, the NLC often fails to do so effectively. If the NLC were truly committed to the cause, the government would be powerless without labor. A prolonged withdrawal of labor would lead to the collapse of any government.

“However, the NLC’s history of calling-off strikes at the last minute, often due to behind the-scenes financial dealings, highlights its lack of integrity and dedications to the people’s cause. We stand united and peaceful, and we demand that the voices of citizens be heard and their views respected. As citizens with rights and privileges, we will not be intimidated or bullied, and we will not be silenced. We will not be deterred by the threats and intimidation tactics of those who seek to maintain the status quo.

“Fellow Nigerians, may i once again reiterate the solidarity of the National Youth Alliance. We are in this together, and together, we will make our voices heard. We will demand a better future for ourselves, our children, and our Nation. We will demand a government that works for the people, not just the privileged few.” he said.