By Lucky Okoedion
Today in Nigeria, suddenly silent are the activists of yesteryears – the Wole Soyinka(s), the pastor Tunde Bakare(s), the Fela Durotoye(s), the Dino Melaye(s) and others who championed the “Occupy Nigeria” massive protests in the past, protesting against policies that were harsh on the masses like increase in pump price of fuel, demanding for a better Nigeria. What are the implications and consequences for a nation when men like these rise as voices of the masses in one season only to abandon the masses and become silent when their friends are in power? How much does this cause the younger generation to lose faith in the promise of democracy when every now and then they discover that too many so-called activists are hypocrites who only used the plights of the people to climb up to the corridors of power?
For a democracy to last long and wax strong, the professing of ideals like “patriotism” have to be real. It shouldn’t be a means to a selfish end. There should not be scarcity of statesmen who are consistent in their conviction. There should be patriots who are consistent . There should be men and women who are consistent in taking side with the people at all times, demanding competent leadership from the government irrespective of whether it is their friend or former comrade that is in power.
A nation without enough of such pillars of conscience is bound to continue to struggle to succeed because of the multiplier effects of such lack of a national conscience. Such a nation would lack soldiers who are willing to pay the ultimate price for the flag because no soldier will demonstrate practical loyalty to a flag that is generally believed to be a fraud. When the activism of the activist always turns out to be fraud, when campaign promises always turn out to be fraud, when the civilian and military leaders do not believe that their word should be their bond, then the flag and every aspect of nationhood and the very idea of being one nation becomes a fraud. Such a nation that portrays itself as a fraud from bottom to top will only have soldiers who will easily strike a deal with Boko Haram when offered enough incentive because their being soldiers is 100% all about getting an employment. Whereas in nations that make progress, there are soldiers who believe in the integrity of the flag.
This is one of the far-reaching consequences of the sudden silence of the activists of yesteryears.
The most dangerous consequence of this lack of leaders of conscience who are not interested in running for office to lead protests in a nation is that crime escalates in the society. This is for the fact that the people must find a way to express their grievances and protest the grand misery in the land. When the government becomes known for using the police and soldiers to brutalize protesters and when the renowned activists of yesteryears are suddenly silent because the politician in power is their friend or for any other reason, the people end up turning against each other. Then the result is a rise in insecurity and insurgency. It then also becomes easier for the youths to get recruited into criminal and terrorist groups. This is the tragic story of Nigeria under Muhammadu Buhari.
Thinking that they are protecting the nation from collapsing through massive protests, the government of Buhari has sealed the voices of opposition. And now there is silence everywhere in spite of the grand misery. It looks like peace, but it is the silence before the storm. It is a graveyard “peace”. Not a graveyard where the corpses are people but a graveyard where the corpses is a nation. I fear for the Nigeria of tomorrow if the silent activists do not wake up from their slumber.
Lucky Okoedion is a believer of a new Nigeria where true democracy and effective governance is practiced. He writes from Benin City. And can be reached on +2347038820118 .
