It was not a pretty sight. A facility specifically meant for youths was being destroyed before our eyes by the same youths in Kano. Computers were carted away by youths who probably don’t know how to use a computer – they probably have never even touched one before. Swivel chairs were carried by those who don’t have any use for such a chair – they probably don’t even have a place they can comfortably call home. According to reports, the NCC building was supposed to be commissioned the following week. Among the aim at full commission, would be to move Kano youths nearer the digital age by upgrading and honing their computer and digital skills. These agitated youths could have chosen any other facility to vent their anger on. They didn’t. Now it has all gone up in smoke. With it, the future and prospect of some of the youths. Also gone up in smoke elsewhere, were some vehicles meant for mass transportation. It speaks to the nature of protests that those who will suffer deprivations most are the same people causing the destruction of needed facilities.

Yet, despite reported skirmishes, lootings and even deaths, Day One of the August Protest could be said to be relatively peaceful. Rare is a mass protest that doesn’t end up being violent. Rare is a mass protest that doesn’t end up in casualties. Rare is a mass protest that doesn’t end up with unsavoury consequences for leaders and the led. And the longer a mass protest goes, the more the chances of the main actors turning on themselves because rare again is a mass protest that doesn’t have undertones different from the stated ones. That is why students of history and elders who have no dog in the fight, always caution against mass protests, or more specifically, against conditions that could lead to a mass protest. Like fires in a desert, mass protests are easier to start than to contain. Unfortunately, the conflagrations of such fires can consume those who are meant to be spared. Besides, every mass protest however peaceful, takes the country backwards economically with the poorest of the poor being the hardest hit. Jury will be out at the end of this exercise, to determine how much Nigeria lost. One estimate put the loss for Day One of the protest at 350 billion Naira with Lagos alone losing an estimated 100 billion Naira. This is not to mention the huge disruptions in several preplanned activities. Or deaths that occurred due to lack of access to medical help.

Mass protests are not cheap. They involve logistics. They demand time and knowhow. People need to be mobilized literally and figuratively. In all probability, the planning for this protest started early this year at the latest. The more vocal proponents of the protest in the public space also happen to belong to opposition parties. This is why I believe it is a political protest that has cashed in on the economic situation in the country. There is hunger in the land. There is insecurity in the land. There are deprivations too. You could argue that they predate this administration. You could also argue that the current administration has not done very much to alleviate the plight of the common man. Instead, their lot has been seemingly compounded by harsh economic policies. The government could argue that these economic policies are bitter pills to right the wrongs of the past. But the reality is that this dire economic strait in which people have found themselves, is caused as much by food insecurity as economic policies. But a deeper reality is that borrowing money to subsidize fuel – which eventually finds its way to other West African countries- and to support the flailing Naira is clearly not sustainable. Besides, the corruption that attends such a policy will not encourage much needed private investments. By far the deepest reality however, is that Nigeria is in fact a poor, badly managed country. So badly managed that it would have been on its way to bankruptcy if it were a limited liability company. It is an uncomfortable fact that many – both leaders and the led- are refusing to face. This refusal is reflected in the protesters’ clamour for the return of fuel, energy and currency to pre-Buhari era. Nobody is asking where the money to defend these would come from in a country which produces virtually nothing and has used future oil earnings to borrow. The notion that Nigeria today can adequately provide for the welfare of over 200 million people is a myth. Not with its GDP. And certainly not with a budget of roughly 30B dollars. But these don’t negate the #endbadgovernance protest. They in fact give it credence because bad governance has been our bane for quite a while and has led us to where we are today.

Many have faulted Tinubu’s approach to the economic situation he found the country in. Many have faulted the humaneness of his policies. Many have faulted his communication style. After all, only he and his team – not the National Assembly, and definitely not the State Governors – know the full extent of our financial situation at inception. The largess he doled out in his first few months in office, to the National Assembly, to buying luxury cars, on building the Vice President’s lodge, on pilgrimage to name a few, not to mention the size of his cabinet, did not reflect a nation in a financial mess. It is in this light that removing subsidies and floating the currency seem harsh and insensitive. Things would have been vastly different and the protest might not have gained traction if he had levelled with people on the parlous state of the economy and proceeded to lead the battle for a lean economy by cutting government expenditure including personnel to the bone. ‘Buy what you produce’ is a mantra that should have started with government and public officials.

Unfortunately, the political class at the Federal and State levels, still wants to continue enjoying the largess and accoutrement of office in spite of the state of the nation and the hardships their policies have caused the people. It still wants to continue the opulent style to which it is now accustomed while the people are asked to tighten their belts. As long as this huge dichotomy between the ‘haves and the have nots’ exists, there will always be reasons for protests. As long as a large pool of unemployed and unemployable youths mill around, there will always be fuel for protests. And there will always be sponsors of protests by those who will seek to exploit situations for selfish, personal reasons. This includes disaffected members of the political elite.

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