The #EndBadGovernance protests sweeping across Nigeria have sparked a myriad of responses, revealing deep-seated frustrations and a call for transformative change.
On the prominent WOMANIFESTO platform, the discourse has been intense, reflective, and deeply concerned.
Here, we capture the essence of these voices, painting a picture of a nation on the brink.
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi: Raises Alarm on Repeated Violence
Co-Convener of WOMANIFESTO and the Founding Director of Women Advocate Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, lauds the police’s strategic presence but stresses the need for their force to protect rather than harass peaceful protesters.
She emphasizes the incongruity of government-sponsored counter-protests, where individuals, under the guise of receiving aid, are manipulated into opposing genuine demonstrations.
Dr. Abiola calls out the government’s failure to address the root causes of the protests—hunger, poverty, and a lack of responsive leadership.
Dr. Abiola expresses worry over the repeated pattern of violence during protests, often incited by state-sponsored hoodlums. “The IGP should be held responsible for any attack on protesters,” she asserts, pointing out the police’s duty to protect lives and property rather than stifle the voices of dissent.
Her call for a more compassionate and effective response to the people’s needs, such as lifting taxes on food and providing security for farmers, resonates deeply in a nation where many struggle daily for survival.
Dr. Oby Ezekwesili: President Tinubu’s August 4 Speech “terribly underwhelming”
Dr. Obiageli ‘Oby’ Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education and co-founder of Transparency International who also served as Vice President for the World Bank’s Africa Region and is a leading advocate for good governance and anti-corruption in Nigeria strongly reacted to President Tinubu’s recent broadcast regarding the #EndBadGovernance protests.
She describes the speech as “terribly underwhelming,” criticizing it for failing to connect with the anger and demands of the citizens. Ezekwesili highlights the missed opportunity for Tinubu to provide sound, evidence-based actions to address governance concerns.
She condemns the speech for its focus on imaginary enemies and the leaders’ refusal to admit responsibility. Ezekwesili urges President Tinubu to instruct the police to stop harming peaceful protesters and to sanction those responsible for violence against citizens.
Mojubaolu Okome: Questioning Foreign Influence
Mojubaolu Okome questions Russia’s involvement, pointing out the improbability of them admitting to any instigation. Her comment reflects broader concerns about foreign influence in Nigeria’s internal affairs.
Okome suggests that the concerns expressed by protesters are legitimate. Peaceful protests are sacrosanct in a democracy. The Nigerian constitution guarantees the right to peaceful protest.
There is hunger in the land! The government refuses to grapple with the situation thoughtfully and effectively, preferring to pay off perceived ‘leaders’ and influencers. Politicians are fleeing the country.
The President’s speech refuses to offer concrete, meaningful responses to citizens’ pain and suffering. There are millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria. They deserve good education if the country is to develop sustainably.
There’s a sense in the Western international policy establishment that trouble is brewing in the Sahel region (part of Nigeria is in the region), and that Russia is behind it and taking advantage. Western think tanks have been talking about this obsessively.
Northern Nigerian protests are probably being seen as (among other things) possibly influenced by these geopolitical forces (given the alleged role of the Russians in the Sahelian countries—Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, where coups have occurred, and the countries have left ECOWAS). It’s not only Nigeria and ECOWAS that are apprehensive.
The US and EU are too. Let’s also remember that Nigerian governments are fond of attributing protests to the influence of foreign actors/interests/ideas.
The Tinubu administration should respond to the demands of the protesters. It should also keep its word on the implementation of the Orosanye Report.
Bolu Onabolu: A Call for Military Restraint
The Convener of Mothers United and Mobilised, Dr. Boluwaji Onabolu, makes a straightforward plea: the military must protect protesters without resorting to live ammunition.
This call for a strategic, non-lethal response underlines the importance of safeguarding lives while maintaining order.
“Government must dialogue; Tinubu must speak to the protesters’ lived reality of hunger. It cannot be wished away with speeches that deny the truth of citizens young and old alike.”
Miriam Menkiti: Government Inaction
Executive Director of Women Information Network (WINET), Miriam Menkiti, worries about the government’s slow response to the protests. She fears that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his team are not taking the situation seriously enough, risking further escalation.
“I hope they are discussing and analyzing the unfolding events so that things will not get out of control,” she laments.
Priscilla Usiobaifo: The Reality of Anarchy
Ms. Priscilla Usiobaifo, Executive Director of BraveHeart Initiative, Edo State, warns against the false assumption that only state actors will suffer the consequences of anarchy.
She underscores the gravity of the situation, highlighting how the elite can escape while ordinary citizens remain trapped in worsening conditions.
Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhes: Echoes of a Hijacked Protest
Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhes, Founder of Echoes of Women in Africa Initiative, reflects fears that the protests have been hijacked, leading to increased hardship for ordinary citizens.
With markets and shops closed women-owned businesses suffer, exacerbating family hardships. The call to end the protests before they escalate further is growing louder.
Asmau Benzies Leo: Caution Against the Call for Military Intervention
The Executive Director of the Centre for Nonviolence and Gender Advocacy in Nigeria (CENGAIN) and the Coordinator of the National Women’s Platform on Security Sector Reform and Governance, Asmau Benzies Leo, voices deep concern over the escalating violence in some Northern states.
Young protesters have been seen vandalizing public property, looting shops, and calling for military intervention.
“It is important to note that it is a fundamental right of citizens to protest against government policies, but this must be done within the bounds of the law,” Leo states.
She stresses that protests should be guided by principles of public law and order, without resorting to violence and destruction of infrastructure.
“This is getting worrisome,” she continues, emphasizing the complexity and unpredictability of the protests.
Leo points to the geopolitical dynamics and the evolving landscape of military coups in West Africa, cautioning against the potential repercussions of such interventions.
She urged the government to engage in a peaceful and constructive dialogue with the protesters to address their grievances and demands and to work towards achieving sustainable solutions for democratic consolidation and good governance.
Rosaline Okosun: A Plea for Dialogue
Rosaline Okosun, President and Founder of the Edo Women Development Initiative (EWDI) and the Association Against Women Exploitation and Degradation (AAWED), Rosaline Okosun, urges those close to President Tinubu to encourage him to engage in dialogue with Nigerians.
She criticizes his recent speech as empty and calls for meaningful action to address the suffering. “The suffering is too much,” she states, reflecting the widespread discontent.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The comments from this women’s platform paint a vivid picture of a nation at a crossroads.
The #EndBadGovernance protests are a manifestation of deep-seated frustrations and a desperate cry for change. As voices from across Nigeria converge, the message is clear: the status quo is no longer acceptable.
The road ahead is uncertain, but the call for a better Nigeria resonates powerfully through these voices.
(Women News Today)
