Boom, Doom and Gloom

Today, the masses are wailing,

Cos our leaders are failing,

They give us hope for generations

While scheming for their next elections.

 

Their promises are always pending,

But their commands; never-bending,

Their faces are haughty and threatening,

Whilst their voice is booming and deafening.

 

For we, the mases, they feign care,

But their care is for the booty’s share,

While clutching their goodies, women and beers,

They leave us to face our fears.

Alas they trivialize our priorities

And yet, they prioritize their own trivialities.

 

I am but a noble seer,

And I see, in the coming year.

Our leaders meeting their doom,

And tottering towards everlasting gloom.

 

From these leaders, we need independence

If we are to preserve our existence.

 

WE PROTESTED| An account of a five man protest…..

By Jonathan Olayinka Emmanuel

For almost two weeks now, an awareness has been going on online – the #askourNASS non-violent protest promoted by www.eienigeria.org and scheduled for today, 26th September. Concerned Nigerians were to gather at the National Assembly to protest against the National Assembly’s outrageous salary (which is ranked No. 1 in the world). While the main event was been prepared for at Abuja, a colleague of mine (Abdul Rahman Abdul Raheem) took it upon himself to do something (in Ilorin) to support the major event in Abuja. He hit the social media calling on people to come out en masse and storm the state house assembly. As usual, many Nigerians (especially youths) greeted the idea with enthusiasm while others scorned, accusing the promoter of sorting cheap fame. Many promised to be a part of it come rain or shine. Raheem never talked to me in person, a friend (Charles Adekunle) informed me and right from that moment I knew I was going to be a part of it. We were to converge in front of Gomola complex Ilorin and from there, move to the house of assembly, other people living in other parts of town were asked to join us at the assembly by 10:00am.

Early today, I sat up in my bed and reconsidered my decision to join the protest but my conscience wouldn’t let me withdraw. I am a Nigerian and this is where I belong, things must change, not just for me but for the generations to come. On reaching the office (I’m an intern) this morning, a colleague asked ‘if we would be paid for the protest…’ another asked ‘if we would still protest had we have a close relative in the house…’ I was dumbfounded, shocked and infuriated. Some minutes after 10am, myself and Charles set out for Gomola complex. We met Abdulraheem and two others (Ibrahim Liman Moshood and Abubakar Shamsudeen) waiting. I was discouraged at first, I expected a crowd with the number of people ragging and bragging online. I regained my confidence when I engaged Shamsudeen and Liman in discussion. These are brilliant Nigerians who believe in change. We waited while preparing our placards. To my dismay, no one joined us, they all had excuses and important functions to attend. Five of us, Abdul Rahman Abdul Raheem, Abubakar Shamsudeen, Adekunle Charles, Ibrahim Liman Moshood and Myself chattered a taxi and headed for the house of assembly where we were to be received by ‘a lady.’

On entering the assembly compound, I was perplexed at what I saw. Different groups were perambulating the complex. They wore customized shirts to show their loyalty, ‘sai bukky,’ some read, ‘ABS, Atunwa, Oloye,’ screamed others. Political thugs in their hundreds trooped in. No one need tell us that it was a wrong atmosphere to raise anti-government placards. We would later learn that a certain commissioner was been ‘confirmed’ today and as a result the crowd have come to rejoice, campaign, threaten political opponents and countless nameless God-damned things. ‘The lady’ that was to received us soon arrive. She has contact with someone inside. I was impressed by the way she talked and carried herself but that would later change. The House was to sit by 12:00pm so we decided to station ourselves outside and raise our placards so that members of the house could read as they come in. The lady amidst us soon withdrew herself and warned us to be careful. I saw fear in her eyes as she spoke and hurried away. Anyway, by now my mind was made up and was as strong as Gibraltar. I stood along the four other comrades who dared to stand. We raised our placards high like prized possessions.

As people and members of the house trooped into the complex they looked at us with mixed reactions. Some laughed, others just shook their heads some slowed down to reread, one or two asked questions but most of them just ignored us. We stood there, under the scorching sun, saying nothing yet meaning a lot. Our stand meant ‘…the legislature are representing themselves and not the people.’ ‘We are calling them thieves for receiving the highest salaries in the world while majority of Nigerians wallow in poverty….’ We did not shout but we said a lot. Our target was to make sure the speaker saw us but by 12:35pm when he didn’t show up, we took our leave.

On our way back, Liman saw a tweet someone posted on twitter. The fellow claimed to be part of us. He claimed a woman at the assembly shouted on him to go get a job. Many others consoled him or identified with the protest. My head was throbbing and I was dehydrated from standing in the sun for so long. I thought about what we did today and I was proud of myself. For the first time in my life I protested against oppression. I took my stand and my voice was heard by whoever cared to hear. Our action today may be irrelevant in history, many people may forget we stood at the entrance of the assembly and raised placards but does it matter? What matters to me is the fact that Raheem, Liman, Charles and Shamsudeen now occupy a special place in my heart. They are brothers in the struggle ‘cos they dared to stand. I also know that a seed has been sown no matter how small….Have you ever stood for what you believe in ? What do you believe in in the first place? It’s high time we started asking the right questions………..

We protest better on these handles: @emmyjonny, @lordcharles01, @dbestsmiles @ibrolim and @harbooh.

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