I haven't written an article in so very long, that it was almost difficult making this one. This has taken me several days already, trying to keep up the fire in me to write this all out. I usually have a lot of thoughts. But these days I haven't had a lot of time or zeal to develop them.
Too many of us have seen the #EndSARS movement sweeping the nation. A movement, that I hope does not end anytime soon, because it is far too important to us as a generation. In just a week; we have shown what our voices and spirits can do when we put our minds to it. Funds have been mobilized to feed, help and protect protesters - with as little as 10-25 million naira being spent so far. And so far, we have seen far more to show for it than the supposed 600 billion naira approved for "COVID-19 palliatives".
The "lazy Nigerian youths", have shown that they are anything but. And the most important thing is that it scares the people in power. People who have grown far too complacent with responsibility, and become far too comfortable with stealing and telling their side of the story - making themselves look like heroes who are struggling with the burden of doing the greater good. The disparity between what television stations plus newspapers are saying compared to social media - complete with videos and pictures make it too obvious that we have been blatantly fed with poisonous lies all these years. Neswpapers telling us that the daughters of Buhari and Osinbajo were the ones who brought down SARS. This is the media our parents feed themselves with, and is why they rarely listen to our own points of view.
And now the youth are inspired. Thanks to the ongoing ASUU strike, and a prolonged uncomfortable stay at home the youth have been able to use their energy productively to fight together in a progressive way against a system designed against them. Nothing like assignments and projects and cliques and faux-important 'exams' to keep them from spilling into the streets.
We have been angry too long, and now we finally have the free time and energy to do something about it. Instead of struggling between numerous distractions after a failed school system has drained you for the day, we can do more than, as the elderly generation believe - "tweet about it today, and forget about it tomorrow".
However, although I have many praises for the people of this generation, I also have many complaints about it. One of my pet peeves is about the Christians complaining about those of us calling our church leaders to lend their voice to this movement.
Yes, I know many of you will start to scrunch your face like deep fried 'akara' at this juncture. But today, I'm not here to respect your feelings. I encourage you to read on and understand.
I have seen too many people arguing and posting that we should not involve the "things of God" and politics. Or people asking why we're not calling out other religions leaders - like imams, to speak out. There are all sorts of excuses and debates out there to justify the silence of religious leaders. And I hate it. I absolutely do.
I hate it because in this country, many of you are fanatical to the extreme when it comes to your religious leaders, and will do anything without question when it is said by "your man of God" or "your daddy in the Lord" or "father/bishop/reverend this or that". I hate it because you don't understand the positive effect it'll have on this struggle.
Someone asked why we're not calling out Imams. Well maybe that's because I'm a Christian. Calling out Muslim leaders is not in my jurisdiction. Some people ask why we're not calling out political office holders. Well I don't see my legislator every Sunday telling me how much he wishes me well, and how much he is ready to support people in my generation to prosper. I also don't have his phone number.
You say we should not involve the "things of God" in these protest, but are we not the people of God? What are our leaders for if they do not rise when we need them to? Just watch how collected the police officers acted once Davido and other well known celebrities appeared in protest areas. Immediately, the officers started listening to reason. That is the power of influence. Something church leaders have an astronomical amount of. You see now that pastors like Adeboye have started speaking out on it, many parents and people in the older generation are taking it seriously. And that's just one church leader.
It pains me to see that some of you will never be passionate about something until your pastor, "man of God" or "Daddy" talks about it. The fanaticism I sometimes see can be extremely off-putting. Because anyone else who is talking is apparently speaking trash. Disgusting.
Another thing that is starting to piss me off is the the fact that some people are turning the protest in some areas into hangouts and parties. It's not bad to add a little fun to keep things lively, but doing drugs, smoking weed, getting drunk, groping women and other things are completely uncalled for. We're having a protest, not a rave. Please don't lose focus, so that our struggle doesn't look like a joke.
In a time like this, where the youth are finally united without division lines of tribe, religion, gender, and more, where we need unity more than ever; anything that stands against that is an absolutely disgusting development. Think hard. Act harder.
If we don't succeed in this protest, then it will only end up in negative consequences for us. The police and even other security forces will act with even more impunity, and all of you that think you are safe because you and yours do not have any tragic stories should hope hard that it won't get to you.
After all, all the others who have been killed, maimed, raped or tortured offered prayers too.
This is why it matters.
Love, Stars, and Things That Matter
1 comment:
Soro Soke!!!
Who's the lazy Nigerian now?
We sure showed'em🙌🙌🙌
20th October a date to remember. May the souls of all the heroes departed rest in peace, Amen
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