By Dave Agboola
Ah, the sweet taste of anarchy! Who needs order and stability when we can have protesters running wild in the streets, destroying private property and causing chaos? It’s not like we haven’t seen this movie before – remember the good old days of post-June 12 annulment when people were maimed, women were spared no one, and people were killed? Ah, those were the days!
And who can blame the protesters? I mean, it’s not like they’re asking for ridiculous things like the return of fuel subsidy, release of EndSARS protesters (some of whom looted people’s businesses and burnt public infrastructure), abandonment of the constitution, electoral reforms, and regime change. Nope, those are totally reasonable demands. And who needs a functioning government when we can have a mob mentality?
But hey, at least the police are allowing them to express their grievances… by letting them run amok and destroy private property of people who are calling for the anarchy. I mean, who needs law and order when we can have a free-for-all? And who cares if more than 22 people died, including a suicide bomber in Borno State? Collateral damage, right?
And let’s not forget the brilliant leaders of the protest, like Ebun Adegboruwa ( who is regretting his action already), Deji Adeyanju, Inibehe Effiong, and Yele Sowore, who clearly have no idea how to control the mob they unleashed. But hey, at least they’re consistent in their hypocrisy. And who needs to take responsibility for the destruction and chaos caused when you can just blame the police for instigating violence?
To President Tinubu, you have been advised to address the nation and douse the tension. I would have said don’t do it! But you have done it, which is not bad. But as things stand, only sensible people are ready to listen to you.
Mr President, you cannot return fuel subsidy or return fuel price to 100 naira. The nation obviously cannot afford it. Let each state government handle internal transportation at affordable rates. The easiest thing to do is to buy airconditioned buses and let them subsidise transportation. It is not FG who should take care of transportation within states.
Mr President, insist that state governors must agree to work with FG to tackle insecurity and strife within their states. The accusation of local politicians, religious leaders, ex-military men and elites fuelling insecurity for business gains need to be nipped in the bud. We ve seen some of the “pissful” protesters flying Russian flag. This treasonable offence must not be swept under the carpet!
By the way, Mr President, do not declare a nationwide state of emergency or curfew for any reason. Let each state governor declare such in their states if needed.
Remember, there are a lot of lies being peddled about your administration. There are lies that you bought a yatch. Where is the yatch? Some even claim that you bought a private presidential jet. How can a presidential jet be private? By the way, you may need to overhaul your information management team. You have the most media advisers in history and most of them are incompetent. Now is the time to look for a seasoned PR guru and let him bring his own team to manage information and public communications from the presidency. You have done a lot and that has not reached the ears of those who should know. As the saying goes, until the lion learns to tell his story, the tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.
Finally, stop being nice and too tolerant, Mr President. You are managing a complex nation and a complex people. How do you explain children looting public property in Kano, Gombe and other affected northern states? Being nice will lead to you being messed up. Ask Jonathan. Remember a fool will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. You must rise to the occasion. Remember General Sani Abacha was an effective leader, despite his many faults. He accomplished all he did for the nation by not being nice to anyone. Any stumbling block to national development needs to be weeded out.
So, to the protesters and rioters especially in the north, I say: keep on keeping on! Who needs stability and security when we can have chaos and destruction?
Mr President, just let the chaos continue until it consumes us all. After all, that’s what we deserve for being so foolish as to think we can have a functioning government. Right now, the protest leaders and the rioters are not reasoning. Let them continue with their zanga zanga and whenever you step it again, it is to restore order in a decisive way. You don’t need to say a word. Just do it. Learn from Buhari. Learn from Starmer!
Dave writes from Lagos State
