If We Re- #OccupyNigeria

The regime of General Muhammadu Buhari has, within the past three days, struck Nigerians two more blows. As if the coronavirus pandemic (that has not only kept Nigerians at home but also left them stranded for months) is not enough, the government has now increased Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol and electricity tariffs.

For those who may have ignored the initial increase in electricity tariffs, waiting for the electricity distribution companies to do their worst and banking on the hope that they would be able to afford the petrol to power their electricity generation sets, they too have not been spared the heat. Petrol prices have also increased. Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which was previously NGN148 now sells at a whooping pump price of NGN151.56 per liter. In fact, many depot owners have, in the heat of the panic, begun to sell at prices ranging between NGN155 and NGN161 per liter. It should be noted that this is the third time the product is being increased in three months. The electricity tariff which was NGN30.23 per kilowatt is now over NGN66 per kilowatt.

Image Source: Twitter

Despite the fact that Nigeria is Africa’s largest producer of crude oil, Nigerians are continually baffled by the fact that the country has relentlessly continued to import refined petrol for decades. It is like the proverbial thirst sufferer standing beside a water body. Apparently, there is no operational refinery in Nigeria. But it is no news that these shortcomings are largely fueled by years of corruption that have riddled the fabric of the nation: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and whoever complains about it is at the risk of becoming a casualty. Even the judiciary that ought to be the last hope of the commoner is not spared the corruption rain.

Also, with the never declining rate of poverty in Nigeria, where even before the coronavirus pandemic, many of the citizens were surviving on resources below $2 daily, the increase of fuel can only be described as a sheer act of wickedness on the part of the Nigerian government as it highlights its insensitivity to the horrifying plight of the average Nigerian.

More awful is the fact that the country’s economy is heavily reliant on crude oil. Thus, any effect on the international scene of oil inevitably affects every other thing in Nigeria. This is why it is very shocking that the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) has described this recent hike in electricity and petroleum prices as being in the best interest of Nigerians.

One cannot help but wonder if this claim of theirs is supposed to be a case of irony or sheer nastiness. Very unfortunate is the fact that the ruling party has continually blamed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), their major opposition for its sixteen years of administrative failure.

If indeed their constant accusatory fingers are to be taken into consideration, does it take rocket science to realize that it is due to the incompetence and inadequacies of the previous administration that the APC was ‘voted’ into power? What does continually casting blame do? Who does it help? Does this ceaseless accusation translate to mean that we shall forever wallow in the failure of the past administrations? Is it leverage for the looting to continue? Does it mean that there is no remedy? Are we wrong to hope for salvation?

At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, the government claimed that General Buhari harbored intentions of supporting Nigerians by paying their electricity bills for a stipulated number of months. Does this increment not foil the so-called goal of alleviating the pains of Nigerians? Very many Nigerians have not received any means of income in these past few months. Many that could comfortably fend for their families have been flung into the quagmire of penury. And when many dare to think that they are approaching the end of the tale of woe, the government that ought to feel the pain along with them digs into their already dripping sores.

Image Source: Twitter

Several organizations have called out the Buhari led government. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) for instance, has expressed displeasure at this line of action. According to punchng.com correspondent Femi Asu, “Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has condemned the increase in petrol price and electricity tariff in the country. The TUC expressed its disappointment on Thursday in a statement titled, ‘Killing the dead,’ and signed by its president, Quadri Olaleye, and Secretary-General, Musa-Lawal Ozigi.

It said, “For the umpteenth time, we have complained about the gradual and steady annihilation of Nigeria in the light of government action.

“Like the book by George Orwell, titled ‘1984’, the government and its agencies have resorted to doing the opposite of what they were set up to do. Government, instead of providing welfare, is killing the people systematically.”

Every single plea made by the Nigerian populace has been flung back at them unresolved. Every policy that Nigerians have considered unpleasant and fought against in previous administrations have seen this regime ruthlessly reinstating them.

A Blast From The Past

Image Source: Twitter

Many Nigerian users of the social media platform, Twitter have made posts using the now trending hashtag, #OccupyNigeria. Apparently, this is a revolutionary call following a similar occurrence some eight years ago.

On the second of January 2012, Nigerians poured into the streets in different parts of the nation to protest the removal of fuel subsidy which led to fuel price increment on the first of the same month under the Federal Government of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It is puzzling that the government could not think of better news to give the nation at the turn of a new year than the fact that the skin of their suffering had only grown thicker.

The social action lasted for one week and five days. Strike actions, civil disobedience, property destruction, and riots were amongst the activities that characterized #OccupyNigeria. Respected members of society including entertainers, intellectuals, trade unionists, members of the bar, even clergymen, and many others participated in the various rallies organized at the time.

Image Source: Twitter

In light of the foregoing, many Twitter users have wondered about the whereabouts of these individuals who took the lead in protesting government oppression when the then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan attempted this same thing that it seems General Buhari is succeeding at undauntedly.

Following the announcement of the subsidy removal in 2012, fuel price was hiked by 120%. Unfortunately, the incident led to the recorded deaths of sixteen Nigerians by means of violence by the Nigerian Police Force. The first person that was killed during the protest was a twenty-three year old. Although the Nigerian Police Force claimed that he was stabbed in the process of the press caused by the riot.

Another casualty had only graduated three days earlier. Even a Divisional Police Officer was implicated in the shootings that led to one of the deaths. This further led to the then-popular chant, “How Many People Police Go Shoot?”

Call: How many people police go shoot?

Response: How many people police go shoot?

Call: How many people police go shoot?

Response: How many people police go shoot?

Eh! Dem go shoot us tire.

Eh! Dem go shoot us tire.

Eh eh! Eh eh! Eh eh!

Dem go shoot us tire.

How many people police go shoot?

sung along the melody of the Nigerian Pidgin Christian song, “Na So So Wonda Jesus Dey Do.”

Call: Na so so wonda Jesus dey do.

Response: Na so so wonda Jesus dey do.

Call: Na so so wonda Jesus dey do.

Response: Na so so wonda Jesus dey do.

Eh! He has done it for me.

Eh! He has done it for me.

Eh eh! Eh eh! Eh eh!

He has done it for me.

Na so so wonda Jesus dey do.

The question “where do we go from here?” now sounds grossly inappropriate.

In fact, from all indications, in the hopes of journeying to a more progressive future, we have apparently been kidnapped, shackled in the middle of nowhere. We have totally lost our bearing.

So while #OccupyNigeria trends on Twitter, I cannot help but wonder if it will change anything. Will we like before, return indoors and wait for the next worst thing to happen? That is if of course things can get worse than they already are. I am sincerely curious about what the next level is.