Protest: Government using us to divide us will not work

By Ajiboye Amos Olakunle

The government’s tactic of using tribe as a key divisional strategy is not new. For decades, they have exploited our differences to maintain their grip on power. But it is time for us to wake up and realize that we are being played against each other. The government is using some individuals to divide us, to make us turn against each other, and to undermine our collective power.
The recent surge in protests against the crippling economic hardship, pervasive insecurity, and systemic failures in Nigeria is a clarion call for urgent action. However, the government’s response has been to enlist the services of certain individuals to dissuade and intimidate would-be protesters. This raises a fundamental question: are we complicit in our own suffering?
The nation’s woes are undeniable. Economic stagnation, rampant unemployment, and galloping inflation have created a perfect storm of desperation. Insecurity has become the norm, with kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism holding sway. The government’s inertia in the face of these challenges has left citizens with no choice but to take matters into their own hands by protesting.
The planned protest is a desperate cry for help, a plea for the government to acknowledge its failures and work towards addressing the nation’s pressing needs. However, the government’s response has been to resort to strong-arm tactics, seeking to silence dissenting voices and maintain the status quo.
By co-opting certain individuals to undermine the protest, the government is attempting to fracture the collective resolve of the people. This approach is not only undemocratic but also self-defeating. It only serves to further entrench the perception that the government is out of touch with the people and more interested in clinging to power than in addressing the nation’s challenges.
The government’s tactic of using tribe as a key divisional strategy is not new. For decades, they have exploited our differences to maintain their grip on power. But it is time for us to wake up and realize that we are being played against each other. The government is using some individuals to divide us, to make us turn against each other, and to undermine our collective power.
To those being used by the government to divide the people, we have a strong warning: you are being used, and you will be discarded when you are no longer needed. You are being used to perpetuate a system that has brought nothing but suffering to our people. You are being used to maintain a status quo that has failed us all. Hence, whatever you’ve been paid for this evil will finish and your generations will suffer from your act of selfishness.
We must recognize that our diversity is our strength, not our weakness. We must come together, united in our diversity, to demand a better future for ourselves and for our children. We must reject the government’s attempts to divide us and instead focus on building a Nigeria that works for all.
However, it is not too late to change course. The planned protest is an opportunity for us to reclaim our agency and demand a better future. It is an opportunity for us to unite in our diversity and demand accountability from our leaders. We must not let the government’s intimidation tactics succeed. We must not let our own fears and doubts hold us back.
The time has come for us to take ownership of our destiny. The time has come for us to demand a Nigeria that works for all, not just the privileged few. Let us not be deterred by the government’s attempts to silence us. Let us not be swayed by the naysayers and skeptics. Let us march forward, united and determined, and reclaim our country from those who have failed us.

Ajiboye Amos Olakunle is a Public Affairs Analyst.