‘Wahala for who no fear Gen-Z’
I write this from a place of grief and disappointment. I am 20 years old, and I have never known a Nigeria that works.
The events of the past two weeks filled me initially with joy, hope and pride; Though, as the second week came around, my friends and I knew nothing but anxiety, heartache and anger. These are a lot of emotions to feel at once, but as a young Nigerian, it is nothing new.
The #ENDSARS protests symbolize a generation of people who have not only decided to say no to police brutality, but have shown that the organization and accountability the nation lacks are stifled, not absent. Ironically, the same phones young people have been accused of using to‘waste their time’are the same phones we have used to organize protest logistics, legal aid, welfare relief and crowdfunding. A protest with no face and one agenda.
The protesters have experienced it all – brute force from security operatives, infantilization by our elected officials and complacency and ignorance from many members of society, especially people in the older generation.
First, to the elected officials reading this, we are not your children, we are your constituents. Frankly, I find the government’s continuous attempt to discredit the movement by presenting the protesters as‘children in need of guidance’, appalling. Many of you have failed at your jobs. You were birthed into a Nigeria with working systems, good education, access to amenities and employment. But here you are, decades later, refusing to leave the helms of power, and determined to continuously exploit this system even if this means weaponizing poverty & illiteracy, feeding the international media a twisted narrative and gunning down peaceful protesters as they sing the words“the labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain”. Are you not ashamed? Is it because your children roam the streets of New York and not Lagos?
The complacency of several people in this administration regarding these protests is worrisome but not surprising. Nigeria thrives on respectability politics that first recognizes power, which often comes from money, then recognizes age. The problem with this logic is, age does not always come with wisdom, and money does not always come from hard work. Many older Nigerians have allowed themselves to marinate in a system that gives them the bare minimum and expects them to be grateful for it. Regrettably, for the leaders of this country, my generation did not inherit this ideology.
As an average Nigerian, you are a terminal illness or tragedy away from extreme poverty. Education, employment and decent healthcare are not guaranteed simply because we refuse to tell the truth as a people. Our system is not working.
Younger Nigerians have been mocked and chastised for the failure of those who came before us. If it is not ridicule for watching Big Brother, it is scepticism of unconventional remote work. Our students have to walk a mile and a half just to access the opportunities many of our parents and grandparents were privileged to have. Thankfully, it is 2020 and the internet is slowly but surely levelling the playing field.
It has given more people access to educational resources, job opportunities and information; filling a gap the government has left wide open. Social Media has become a powerful tool, and any attempt to stifle free speech will be met with more resistance; know this and know peace.
The joy that comes with the solidarity in protesting, both online and on the ground, is something every Nigerian deserves to feel. As we continue to demand accountability in every aspect of government, let us look within ourselves and refute bigotry in all its forms. Let go of tribalism, religious intolerance and classism; we are not our parents, we will not be divided.
I am 20 years old, and I want to believe in a Nigeria that works. I understand the journey to that Nigeria is treacherous and long, but the labours of my heroes, Anthony Onome Unuode, Tina Ezekwe, Iloanya Chijioke, the 100s of people at the Lekki toll protest on the 20th of October 2020 and all the beautiful souls we have lost in this fight, will never be in vain.
Oh, and to the Telcos and Banks also hindering change, 61% of Nigerians are younger than 25 years old and the people never forget, good luck.