As the world watches Kenya burn, Nigeria stands at a crossroads.
The East African nation’s protests, sparked by a contentious finance tax bill, began peacefully but descended into chaos, leaving a trail of death, destruction, and economic devastation in their wake.
Nigeria is bracing itself for its own ’10 Days of Rage’ protest. But can the country avoid the riotous road that Kenya has taken and the violent pitfalls that marred the #ENDSARS protests in 2020?
The answer, experts say, lies in learning from these mistakes and allowing reason and not rage to prevail.
The ongoing protests in Kenya, now in their sixth week, have claimed at least 50 lives and injured over 400 people, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
The economic toll is equally staggering, with estimated losses of approximately 6 billion Kenyan shillings ($46 million).
The protests, which began as a peaceful demonstration against the government’s decision to impose a 16% value-added tax on petroleum products, quickly turned violent as protesters clashed with police.
Right motive wrong result
Similarly, the #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria, sparked by police brutality, began peacefully but eventually descended into chaos, violence, and destruction.
The movement, which started as a cry for justice and reform, ultimately lost its way, resulting in the loss of lives, property, and economic opportunities.
The protests, which began in October 2020, were sparked by the killing of a young man by police officers in Delta State.
The movement quickly gained momentum, with protesters demanding the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and an end to police brutality.
As Nigeria prepares for its own ’10 Days of Rage’ protest, concerns are being raised about the potential for similar violence.
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the government to engage with protest leaders and ensure a peaceful demonstration.
Fragile Peace Analysts warn that the proposed protest could repeat the mistakes of 2020 if not carefully managed, citing the ongoing civil unrest in Kenya as a cautionary tale.
Nigeria, with its own significant debt burden and a myriad of other challenges, cannot afford another round of civil strife. Experts argue that the ongoing reforms of the current government should be allowed to gather steam, rather than being derailed by protests.
The Inspector General of Police has assured that the force is prepared for the protest, but experts advise organisers to prioritize reason over emotion.
By examining the examples of Kenya and #ENDSARS, Nigeria can learn valuable lessons about the importance of peaceful protest, constructive engagement, and collective progress.
Unified Agenda The key to a successful protest, according to Alli-Balogun H. Lekan, is a single, unified agenda.
He cites examples of successful protests in Nigeria’s past, including the June 12, 1993, demonstration and the January 1, 2012, Occupy Nigeria protest.
However, Alabi Kunle notes that the current global turmoil has hit African countries hard, and protests may not be effective in achieving change.
“The current global topsy-turvy has hit African countries the most,” he says. “Protest will not change much given the unfolding scenario in Kenya, Bangladesh, and other third-world countries.”
The future of Nigeria depends on its populace choosing peaceful protest (if need be), constructive engagement, and collective progress instead of falling into the trap being set by selfish politicians with sinister motives.
