How many of us wish for a revolution in
Nigeria? A revolution is a process of people’s uprising that culminates
in a military or civilian coup. So, if you want a revolution, what you
want is a coup. Between the revolution and the coup are periods of
unrest, full or partial truncation of state function plus or minus
violence. Finally, a state of emergency is declared and the military or a
temporary civilian council steps in and seizes power.
Revolting citizens do not typically enter
the State House and seize power, it is the army or other legislators
that do so when they believe the global community sees they are
justified in doing so as supported by the people’s uprising. The
revolution is simply a statement; a visible statement, not to be
confused with a rebellion. continue...
Egypt’s revolutions of 2011 and 2013 both
resulted in this predictable fashion—military seizing power on behalf
of the masses. Tunisia’s 2010-2011 revolution likewise ended predictably
with the president forced to flee and a state of emergency declared.
The question to ask is, in a modern
technological world, do states need to wait for the people to actually
physically perambulate the streets and possibly lose their lives, to
determine that a revolution is active? Popular people’s uprising can be
as equally gauged online as it can be on the ground in this day and age.
If indeed there is a people’s massive
revolution online as in the case of Nigeria, then the people of Nigeria
must view the international community, the military and all legislators
who refuse to take action and enact the revolutionary coup culmination
as enemies of the masses, wishing more to die as the active revolution
yields no response. Is this the case with Nigeria? Does the
international community see the popular people’s uprising and fold their
arms, caring less and not demanding a leadership step-down as they did
in the case of Egypt, or they are watching the revolution and ignoring
the deaths?
And Nigeria’s legislators and military
that ignore the people’s revolution, and continue to fold their arms,
accompanying a denuded government; in what regard must they be viewed
and treated? Enemies of the masses and the state? Forming mega
political parties and waiting for elections to challenge the denounced
regime does not constitute the appropriate reaction to a full-blown
revolution.
Tunisia protests continued even after
President Ben Ali resigned and fled the country. The people demanded his
party itself be dissolved with all RDC ministers sacked; this was
fulfilled by the responsible civilians, the people even pressed and
Mohamed Ghannouchi, the interim Prime Minister, himself resigned, and he
was respectful of the people’s wishes enough to do so.
In Egypt, the 2013 third revolution
effectively deposed the democratically elected Mohammed Morsi. Being
elected does not warrant leaders impressing themselves against sizeable
protest, till the completion of their term. We all get fired from our
jobs when we fail in our duties. President Goodluck Jonathan has called
for the sack of a serving Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria,
Lamido Sanusi, for an unverified accusation of his allegedly leaking a
letter in the interest of the nation with regard to the gross
embezzlement of $50bn public funds. This means Nigeria’s President does
understand that regardless of employment, election or appointment
methods and term, as and at when failure to execute the duties of office
and uphold the constitution is ascertained, officials of whatever rank,
can be asked to resign, even if this is done by those outside of
authority to do so.
By the same standards, is there not ample
evidence that the Jonathan administration has failed more woefully to
uphold its obligations and duties to the Nigerian electorate and in
keeping with the constitution and their oath of office; and as such
should resign or be made to resign?
Is the Berne Declaration finding of the
$7bn greatest fraud Africa has ever known, happening under this
administration, with the administration refusing to cooperate with the
Switzerland government to urgently investigate this deadly income loss,
not enough reason for the people’s bloody internet protest to be heeded
and the head of the government to flee the nation, with constituted
replacements as approved by us protesting masses to replace him, and
replace those who replace them, till we are satisfied as happened in
Tunisia?
Should we Nigerians not clearly portray
our disappointment in the legislators of all parties, the military and
the international bodies who refuse to acknowledge our clear protest and
continue to patronise and protect a government we no longer can
tolerate? Where are the global sanctions? Where is the impeachment?
Where is the action that is the proper reaction to clear protest of the
people? Is it until we parade the streets like primitive men, that our
protest will be recognised?
Are they waiting for us to walk into the
State House and seize power by ourselves? Or they are waiting for us to
march, dance and paint the streets crimson red, before they act?
Sanusi gave me his word, Mr. President.
He will resign after you and your coterie do the dutiful and let the
nation be, so it can start a 50 year delayed path to recovery and
possible greatness.
We love you and know you would be the
best leader under other settings and conditions in running of a stable
and properly founded nation, but not just at this founding stage where
we need real and bold thinkers to reconstitute the nation, political
system, judiciary and even character and personality of the citizens.
This is not your time. Like your godfather, perhaps we will re-invite
you later, Sir.
Be our Mandela. Rise above the APC with this selfless act. Listen to the people’s revolution.
Dr. Brimah, the National Coordinator, Every Nigerian Do Something
PUNCH
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