A former Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mike Ejiofor, has attributed the peaceful nature of the 2012 protests against petrol subsidy removal to the leadership style of former President Goodluck Jonathan and the relatively stable economic conditions at the time, highlighting government role in preventing violent protest.
Ejiofor made these remarks during an interview on Arise TV’s The Morning Show on Friday, offering a comparative analysis of the 2012 protests and the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protests scheduled for August 1 to 10.
Jonathan’s Leadership and Economic Conditions
Ejiofor stressed that Jonathan’s approach to handling the protests played a significant role in maintaining peace.
“The 2012 protest didn’t turn violent, one, because of the body language of the sitting president then. He allowed everything to go, and the situation was not as bad as what we have now,” he stated.
According to Ejiofor, Jonathan’s tolerance and openness to dissent helped de-escalate potential conflicts during the protests.
Current Economic Hardship and Risk of Violence
In contrast to 2012, Ejiofor expressed concern over the current state of the nation, highlighting that the economic hardship could fuel violent outcomes during the planned protests.
“Now, it can be exploited because people are hungry, desperate, and want to use anything to vent their anger,” Ejiofor warned.
He noted that the current desperation among the populace poses a significant risk of the protests being hijacked by individuals with ulterior motives.
Government Warnings and Security Concerns
The DSS and other security agencies have issued stern warnings against the planned protests, citing intelligence reports of potential infiltration by elements aiming to incite chaos and violence.
“The level of violence being envisaged can only be described as a state of anarchy. The armed forces, on its part, will not stand by and allow anarchy to befall our nation,” stated Major General Edward Buba, the defence spokesman.
Right to Protest and the Fear of Hijacking
While Ejiofor acknowledged the constitutional right of citizens to protest, he stressed the importance of ensuring that such protests remain peaceful.
“It is their legitimate right to protest… But the fear is very high that this protest will be hijacked,” he said.
Ejiofor pointed out that conflicting interests within the populace could lead to the exploitation of the protest for personal or political gains, further complicating the situation.
Lessons from the #EndSARS Protests
Reflecting on the #EndSARS protests in 2020, Ejiofor noted the significant damage and losses incurred, emphasising the risk of a repeat scenario. He urged the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests to reconsider their plans and give the government more time to address the issues.
“Looking at their demands, we will all agree that there is economic hardship in the country… But people who are more hungry now will explore the opportunity to loot people’s shops, and it will eventually turn violent,” he cautioned.
Provocative Statements and Need for Direct Engagement
Ejiofor also expressed concern over provocative statements from President Bola Tinubu’s aides, warning that these could exacerbate tensions with ethnic and religious undertones.
He advised the President to engage directly with grassroots Nigerians and consider making a national broadcast to address the situation and alleviate public concerns.
“The ordinary man in the street needs also to know what is happening… I think the president needs to directly speak to the people, maybe make a national broadcast, this will help in relaxing the situation,” he suggested.
Call for Dialogue and Public Address
Sama’ila Musa, National Coordinator of the Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative and former spokesperson for the Coalition of Northern Groups, echoed Ejiofor’s call for dialogue.
He stressed that the government should address the public’s grievances sympathetically to prevent the protests from spiralling out of control.
“There is so much anger in the land… We are afraid with the level of anger right now in the country… How much more what’s going to happen when you call for a mass protest?” Musa queried, highlighting the potential for looting and vandalism if the protests proceed unchecked.
As Nigeria braces for the upcoming protest, the lessons from the past, coupled with the current economic challenges, bring to the fore the need for a careful and measured approach.
Both Ejiofor and Musa call for a balance between the right to protest and maintaining public order, urging the government to engage directly with the populace to address their concerns and prevent the protests from descending into violence.
