October 1, is Nigeria’s independence anniversary, but how many people remember? Since the return to democracy brought the rare gift of media plurality, and we are no longer all condemned to watching the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), how many of us remember Independence Day?
In the latter days of President Muhammadu Buhari, the day turned to a day of rage as angry citizens promised some heat. Buhari then chose to mark it on his sofa. In place of the solid policy statements that were normally announced on the day, Buhari came up with tepid statements which less than a tenth of Nigerians bothered with.
True to his promise that Nigerians would remember him with nostalgia, President Tinubu has copied the worst aspects of Buhari and escalated the same. This includes the cynical celebration of the independence anniversary.
Who heard what Tinubu said on October 1? If what he said didn’t translate to affordable fuel, affordable garri and reasonable exchange rate, does it mean anything to hard-pressed Nigerians?
Most Nigerians, however, noted the day for another reason, the promised “#FearlessinOctober” protest against hunger, hardship and oppression which are rife in Nigeria. While almost all Nigerians yearn for relief from these crushing torments, few had the energy and temperament to hit the streets as requested by the protest organisers. Few turned out in Abuja and Lagos which were to be the twin barrels of the protest.
As was perfected the other month during the #Endbadgovernance protest, the government simply pulled the communication plug, creating the Tower of Babel scenario in which nobody could communicate with the other. Even electronic transfer of money was impaired. Outcome was predictable.
So, before the embers had cooled off, Tinubu announced on October 2, that he was off to the UK on his annual leave.
If he was bothered at all, he would not mention annual leave. And if he was not disdainful of the people he governed, he would not mention jetting off to the UK in his brand new presidential jet. He would have watched developments right at base, and he would have stayed back in the heaven-on-earth that he is turning Nigeria into.
But who are we that this president should be mindful of? This is the proverbial buffalo that keeps grazing while the hunter shoots. Obviously, it knows that the hunter’s gun is loaded with only blanks. The danger, however, is that getting used to the bang without injury, and hence deploying its practiced response, the buffalo may not notice the time the hunter replaces the blanks with the real bullets.
