I caught wind of the Enough-is-Enough youth march in Abuja late. From what I’ve read and seen online so far, the match did happen as planned, the group made their way into the National assembly grounds, but could not get anyone of relevance to address them. Nice and encouraging try, it was.
A video clip
Overall, I appreciate the energy and commitment of planners of the event. They are the ones in the trenches and up against the brutality of the security forces. Putting their bodies at risk and investing their time to make a case for the general well being of Nigerians is a noble task, and I doff my hat!
However, I wish the demands made could have been more potent and better conceived . Ore’s Note, a Nigerian blog reporting the event, captures the demands succinctly:
1) President Yar’Adua should resume, resign or be removed
2) The promise of 6000megawatts must be fulfilled
3) The 5-month fuel crisis needs to end now.
My take:
1. The removal/resumption/retirement of Mr. Yar’Adua is no longer critical at this stage of event in Nigeria. What is important is having in place constitutional measures that will prevent similar occurrences in the feature. Let’s deal with the issue of transparency, the root cause of the problem.
For instance, we should be asking for mandatory health screening/assessment for any political office-holder, the findings of such must be made public. The screening must be pre-appointment and yearly.
2. Asking for 6,000MW of electricity is really lame i think.
We could have asked for the establishment of regional/local/ industrial parks nationwide with 20-24 hrs of electrical power (and other necessary amnesties) where businesses can set up shop and engage in symbiotic existence. Nigeria does not need power 24-7 nationwide at this point, just guarantee power to the industrial and production centers!
3. Ending the five-month scarcity is easy, just get more ships to bring in more fuel! But this is not the solution to the problem…
Oil refinement must be done locally, and open to the private sector involvement. Three refineries are too few to handle the demands of Nigerians and her nearby neighbors! Rid the sector of politics and see how quick a turn-around will happen. Have each geo-political zone own and operate a refinery.
Salute!
This is encouraging…
Looking through the demands made, I’m guessing folks might just want to keep it simple…I’m impressed they could even get that far.
In my dreams I see a time when protest like this would be organized into a 48-72 hr vigil at the door steps of the national assembly.
March 16, 2010 at 1:31 pm
I just saw a picture of the rally on NEXT. I’m proud my people have found a new zeal to pursue their demands, how I wish I could be part of this historic moment!
It is indeed shameful that the legislators fled their chambers though…it speaks volumes to the kinds of people in leadership positions in Nigeria.
More of this will come, they can expect that!!!
March 16, 2010 at 9:14 pm
Are we looking at the makings of revolution…? I hope so. Never have we seen anything of this kind in recent times in the country.
March 16, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Shame on them!!! This confirms the people at the national assembly are there to help themselves
March 16, 2010 at 9:17 pm
@DMK, I think we are looking at the beginning of a revolution…The rally must be sustained and intensified. Now more people should join.
More power from New Jersey!
March 16, 2010 at 9:19 pm
It is remarkable that some celebrities joined the youth in the rally. Very good…I’m proud!
March 16, 2010 at 9:21 pm
I’m writing from Canada and I salute the youth and organizers too. I hope the rally got good coverage on the local media…the CNN has the story too. Enough is Enough!
March 16, 2010 at 9:22 pm
Next time the demands should be made more thorough…the first time is to test the ground. Up Nigeria
March 16, 2010 at 9:24 pm
I understand there was even live-streaming of the rally on the web, nice touch! Given the complexities of organizing, I doff my hat again to the ‘youth’.
I think this is revolutionary, and the beginning of better things to come. The message must be sustained and intensified, particularly on the local media, and at the state levels.
March 16, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Bravo all! This is a thing of pride that all Nigerian youth should catch the fever of. It must be contagious. The youth must swim against the tide of national graveyard silence, and ask for WHAT WE WANT. Again, bravo to all that came out.
March 17, 2010 at 4:38 am
I think it is time for all Nigerians that want a better Nigeria to rise and act, both at home and in the Diaspora. We should not just salute occassional protests eg the Youths as above and the Soyinka led Abuja rally etc.
Time to keep such marches and protests ongoing be it weekly and must take place simultaenously at different locations. Our leaders are lily livered and have openly proven this. They should be hounded, haunted into oblivion so that CHANGE can really start in Nigeria.
If left for too long the rally would have made no effect in the long run. Arise folks let us put heads together and fomulate plans to keep going until we get results.
I do commend the Youths and pray they dont relent at all.
March 23, 2010 at 9:20 am