Let us hope that these many people did not die in vain. However, there is
hope from what I read today that "Angry Pensioners Shut Oyo Secretariat" by
Punch's Sunday Aborisade, wherein he reported that "Hundreds of angry
pensioners mobilized to the main entrance of the Oyo State Secretariat as
early as 6.30pm on Wednesday and shut out civil servants and other visitors
for more than four hours. They were protesting the non-payment of their
various arrears. Their action paralyzed government activities as they
alleged neglect and deprivation by the government...." "...No fewer than 60
policemen watched helplessly as civil servants who had turned up for work,
were barred from accessing the secretariat as all the gates were shut."
"The action led to a traffic congestion on all routes that led to the
secretariat while the traffic gridlock spill over to other routes like the
Sango - Mokola Road, Bodija- University of Ibadan Road, Mokola - Gate Road
among others. ". The difference between this Ibadan story and the Jos
unfortunate incident is the lack of physical violence and deaths in Ibadan
which is the way people ought to behave if they want to compel their govt
to behave as the electorates want them to - peaceful demonstrations that
paralyzes govt daily operations - we don't need to look at Thailand as a
role model if we have one here at home - charity begins at home as our
elders are fond of saying. Can one imagine if this peaceful demonstrations
occurring all over the country at the same time? The House will never get
away with unethical conduct of buying cars while 99% of Nigerians live in
penury. Can imagine the Senate keeping mum on the 419 kingpins hiding among
them. Can one imagine the Presidency harassment of the media? Can one
imagine the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General harassing
our corruption crusader - Ribadu - with impunity? Govt cannot get away with
murder like these if the public would not allow it - but for peaceful
demonstrations that shut down govt operations until it changes course and
respect the public demand for change and accountability. They just need a
good leader to lead them right and safely. The demonstrators should also
give adequate warning to the police to keep hooligans and area boys at bay
from their peaceful and purposeful demonstration of their goals and
objectives. To separate the chiff from the chaffs, the peaceful
demonstrators could wear uniforms so the police could easily identify the
impostors and mischief-makers. Oshiomolhe used to do this effectively
during OBJ's admin. If the governor of Edo state wants to help the public
accomplish its goal without loss of lives, he could send his previous
organizers to major cities around the country to educate activists on how
to organize and protest effectively without recourse to blood letting. Good
luck, guys and don't give up & keep believing that the future belongs to
you your children and grand kids as you make the sacrifice today.
Let us hope that these many people did not die in vain. However, there is hope from what I read today that "Angry Pensioners Shut Oyo Secretariat" by Punch's Sunday Aborisade, wherein he reported that "Hundreds of angry pensioners mobilized to the main entrance of the Oyo State Secretariat as early as 6.30pm on Wednesday and shut out civil servants and other visitors for more than four hours. They were protesting the non-payment of their various arrears. Their action paralyzed government activities as they alleged neglect and deprivation by the government...." "...No fewer than 60 policemen watched helplessly as civil servants who had turned up for work, were barred from accessing the secretariat as all the gates were shut." "The action led to a traffic congestion on all routes that led to the secretariat while the traffic gridlock spill over to other routes like the Sango - Mokola Road, Bodija- University of Ibadan Road, Mokola - Gate Road among others. ". The difference between this Ibadan story and the Jos unfortunate incident is the lack of physical violence and deaths in Ibadan which is the way people ought to behave if they want to compel their govt to behave as the electorates want them to - peaceful demonstrations that paralyzes govt daily operations - we don't need to look at Thailand as a role model if we have one here at home - charity begins at home as our elders are fond of saying. Can one imagine if this peaceful demonstrations occurring all over the country at the same time? The House will never get away with unethical conduct of buying cars while 99% of Nigerians live in penury. Can imagine the Senate keeping mum on the 419 kingpins hiding among them. Can one imagine the Presidency harassment of the media? Can one imagine the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General harassing our corruption crusader - Ribadu - with impunity? Govt cannot get away with murder like these if the public would not allow it - but for peaceful demonstrations that shut down govt operations until it changes course and respect the public demand for change and accountability. They just need a good leader to lead them right and safely. The demonstrators should also give adequate warning to the police to keep hooligans and area boys at bay from their peaceful and purposeful demonstration of their goals and objectives. To separate the chiff from the chaffs, the peaceful demonstrators could wear uniforms so the police could easily identify the impostors and mischief-makers. Oshiomolhe used to do this effectively during OBJ's admin. If the governor of Edo state wants to help the public accomplish its goal without loss of lives, he could send his previous organizers to major cities around the country to educate activists on how to organize and protest effectively without recourse to blood letting. Good luck, guys and don't give up & keep believing that the future belongs to you your children and grand kids as you make the sacrifice today.