Since the protest of 1152 BC, the first ever recorded in human history occurred in Dair El-madina, Egypt against the famous king Ramses III, man has chosen the option as a way of ventilating displeasures over certain developments in his environment. This could be violent or non-violent, depending on the clime and circumstances. Protest are not new in this part of the world. Nigeria as a country has had a good dose of these. The nation has witnessed series of protests as a post and pre-independent nation.
Fifty five years after independent, protests have not abated in the socio-political life of the people. Rather, it’s waxing stronger and getting more sophisticated in terms of organization and execution as a veritable tool used by the ruled to get the rulers to meet certain demands. Unfortunately, some politicians and intrest groups now see protest as a tool of blackmail to armtwist opponents or to run down government of the day. All these are aimed at achieving their selfish interests without taking the state into consideration, using all sorts of labour slogans to deceive the gullibles. They masquerade as human rights groups or as civil society organisations. Virtually every protest is monetized, no more selfless and genuine protests. These days, one hardly differentiate the fake from the genuine ones. They are ready to kill, they are ready to maim, they are ready to destroy public utilities/property using the children of the less priviledged and those of the dregs of the society as canon fodder. At the end of the day, peanuts are dished out to the real risk bearers, the masses used for the dirty job while the big masquerades smile to the bank. Sad enough, their own children are kept far away in the comfort zone of the whiteman.
It’s worthy of note that street protest was one of the major positive tools used by our nationalists to chase away the colonial masters from our shores. International bodies like the United Nations and other democratic institutions recognize protests as ingredients of democratic governance, one of the very few options open to the masses to ventilate their grievances. Liberal rulers who have respect for democratic norms readily embrace and recognize the rights of the people to protest while maximum rulers and leaders with autocratic tendencies resent and resist protests, they see it as an affront and a challenge to their authority. In Edo State, the Heart Beat of the Nation, protest is a way of life made popular by the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole. As a liberal leader coupled with his labour background, Oshiomhole encourages protests by the people.
Like Mahatma Gandhi, the great father of Indian nationalism, Oshiomhole is an apostle of non-violent civil disobedience to constituted authorities as a form of protest. Aside his liberal disposition as a democrat cum comrade, Oshiomhole is a product of popular protests. One will readily recall that when the power that be robbed him of victory during the 2007 governorship election, Oshiomhole chose the option of mobilizing the people to protest the daylight electoral robbery. He did not resort to violence where government properties are targeted for destruction. Rather, he embarked on a long and tortouse peaceful protests for close to two years. So far, it has remained the best in terms of organization, coordination and execution in the political annals of this country.
The master labour strategist successfully managed people of little or no education. These people of diverse socio-economic background successfully turned the table against the electoral robbers by retrieving the stolen mandate. These foot soldiers included market women, bike riders, artisans, drivers, streets urchins etc. Their combined efforts made the state ungovernable for the usurpers and made their Abuja collaborators restless. Like a thief caught in the act, they had no option than to abandoned their loot and flee in different directions. To some extent, these non -violent protests influenced the decision of the courts when they both gave verdicts at different times in favor of the unbending master negotiator cum mobilizer.
The Comrade Governor has never made pretences about his dislikes for violent protests where human lives and private/ government properties are targeted for destruction. It was against this background that the protests that rocked Benin City penultimate Monday must be appraised. A coalition of civil society groups organised protests across major streets over what the organizers perceived as anti-people policies of the government. Despite the fact that the government is not just in office it’s also firmly in power and it has all it takes to equally mobilize and counter the protest many fold, it displayed a very high level of maturity and sensitivity to the feelings of the people. None of the protesters was molested or ruffhandled even when they repeatedly made some inciting statements against the government and unprintable uttrances against the person of the governor. More importantly, the government had a foreknowledge of the fact that some power hungary chieftains of the main opposition party in the state was behind the protests. Yes, government was fully aware of the ugly faces behind the mask but chose to look the other way while they dance and break their legs before the real dance commences.
The magical year 2016 is fast approaching, the year when the boys will again be separated from the men, the year when the good people of Edo State will choose between light and darkness, the year when the people will decide between good and evil, the year when the people decide between the option of those who share the money under the table and those who work with the money. As we gradually move towards this magical year, the good people of Edo State should expect more protests of deception. They will come in different forms disguising as the Messaih of the masses. But Edo people must shine their eyes and refuse to be deceived because, once beaten, twice shy. The civil society groups must not allowed themselves to be used under whatever guise. All manner of temptations will surely come their way but they would be doing Edo people a great deservice if they mortgage their conscience for a mess of potage.
As an apostle of non -violent protest, Oshiomhole has consistently made it clear that violent protests in whatever form will not be condone in Edo State while peaceful ones will be encouraged.
Hardly any day without people carrying placards to government house in Benin City , protesting one thing or the other to the extent that it is now being trivialized. When husband and wife have matrimonial disagreement, the next thing you see is a protest march to Osadebey Avenue. Despite his busy scheduled, the governor makes out time to talk to the protesters. Where he is not available, a senior government official stands in for him. All the security agencies in the state, especially those attached to the government house treat such protesters with the utmost respect and decency. Brutalisation of protesters has no place in Edo State, let alone a security official pulling the trigger under whatever provocation.I hear it’s an unwritten code in Edo imbibed by all security personnel serving in the state. This is Edo State where protest is a way of life.
