#June12Protest: Before Nigeria Sinks Completely; 3 Things To Do -By Toheeb Shittu

For decades, Nigerians have suffered as a result of utter corruption and lack of service from politicians who find joy in milking the nation dry instead of using the resources for the maximum good of the people.
These ones prefer to leave a government-owned airport without AC. They prefer to leave roads that lead to their constituents in bad shape. They would rather choose to travel to Europe for medical assistance instead of putting the medical facilities in good shape.

Instead of diversifying the economy, they would rather sell crude oil at the lowest prices possible just to use the money in funding University education for their children abroad, buy houses in Dubai and even keep jewelries worth billions of naira. Needless to say Nigerian politicians like Twitter’s Morris Monye would say, are the “wickedest people on earth”.

Right now, there is a war going on outside that no Nigerian is safe from. It is amongst other crucial issues, the twitter ban that may lead to an eventual ban of social media which would mean President Buhari and Lai Mohammed directly abusing our Right to Free Speech as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

The truth is Nigeria faces 99 problems but Twitter is definitely not one of them. Myriads of other issues; kidnappings, terrorist attacks, food crisis, rising rate of unemployment, unstable power supply, killer potholes on shaky roads, regions’ cry for secession; the list goes on.

A #June12Protester being assaulted by the police.

No need to bore you with these problems because if you are living in Nigeria, rich or poor, you face these problems every single day. Telling these issues to form a queue would be adding salt to injury because they will all fight for the one that deserves the number one spot. It is as crazy as that.
Also, cries for secession continue to fill the air. Oduduwa Republic, Arewa Nation, Biafra; they all want to split. Unfortunately, the constitution does not make this possible. You won’t even find the word ‘secede’ in the Nigerian constitution. Hence, the push for an independent nation by these people will continue to fall in deaf ears of even international community.

3 Things To Do

Impeach Buhari

The process for impeaching President Buhari is quite stringent since it would mean relieving the number one citizen of his job and also cancelling the decision of millions of Nigerians who have put their trust in the dictator. Nevertheless, the 9th Senate and the National Assembly have a lot to do if they are not already a rubberstamp by how most Nigerians see them. President Buhari only needs to be slapped with allegations of gross misconduct and we can make headway. But it is quite unfortunate that our current Senate is only filled with irresponsible folks who would rather defend Buhari, talk down on people in a public hearing or ask Nigerians to keep vigilant amidst terrorist attacks. Are we not doomed?

Amend the Constitution

Shebi it is a government that wants to listen to criticism and suggestions that will assent to constitutional amendments. The current government is being led by a President who would rather be silent or when he talks, threaten to treat agitators in the language they understand. If four-fifths majority of the Senate and House of Assembly passes a vote, consenting to amending the most crucial parts of the constitution, then maybe we can hope for a light at the end of the tunnel. But do these ones want to agree that our constitution has been a problem for years? Selfish folks who care less about the people but the millions they eat up from allowances every month. They know there is more to do than tabling motions that do not speak to the current situations. They just choose to be lackadaisical.

Split Nigeria? No. Elect
Vibrant Persons.

We all know how the 1967-1970 civil war ended. That attempt to secede brought upon the two Nations, tales that will forever make our eyes bleed with hot tears. Away from that, most Nigerians are only following the bandwagon. Many do not see beneath the surface. I am saying this because if we end up splitting this country, the same people who have ruled us for years will still continue to feed on our ignorance. Look at the Southwest for instance. If we end up getting the Yoruba Nation, people like Obasanjo, Tinubu and others who have been the reasons for Nigeria’s problems for years would still lend their voices and like the latter is reportedly doing, decide to vie for office. Will anybody ever be able to counter these elite statesmen who have served Nigeria for many years? We have had so many rectums in the corridors of power. Electing vibrant minds who are 21st century charlatans will be a factor to how Nigeria grows and finds rest after years of toil in this cold world.

If the last point ever happens, it is because the first two has been put in place or Nigerians (old and young, conductor and civil servants, traders and white-collars) wake up and act. It is left to Nigerians to continue the fight against the ironical dictatorship in a democratic society. We would not bow down to the insaneness of this government. Daily we will keep fighting for the change we seek. True freedom does not come cheap, that we know. The price, we will all pay!

Toheeb shittu writes from Ijebu igbo, he can be reached on 09065541254.