I rarely cry. Even when my parents died, it took months before I accepted that two incredibly good people had left the earth. Then, I wept. But, one thing is guaranteed to produce an extreme emotional reaction – oppression.
I hate abuse of power. How one group can hold another hostage. And so, when I heard about Nigeria’s Twitter ban, I had an instant migraine and fell physically ill. I wondered how the political class with one announcement, could stifle a generation’s business platform. Could threaten the mental health of those who use it to diffuse tension or find companionship. And, could unceremoniously strip this generation of their primary means of political expression and advocacy.
You hear of these things happening in other nations, but somehow you think the madness in your country can’t surely get to that point. Well, ladies and gentlemen, it has. I already wrote about how I knew Nigeria was broken here.
The Future of Nigeria is at Stake
Friends, the only counterforce that the Nigerian political class understands is raw power. Whether spiritual or physical. It’s why so many erstwhile violent groups get seats at the negotiation table.
But, because I do not advocate for terror or violence, I will say this. If you want to change Nigeria, get power. Power from God, money, international influence and most importantly, from an incredible number of offline followers.
The reason our leaders have run amok is because there is no other power to keep them in check. Everything has been decimated. The judiciary, legislature, press, religious community and non-profit institutions. They have been pummeled into submission – bought, threatened or silenced. We appear to have a totalitarian state masquerading as a democracy.
We Need the Middle Class
The last hope for Nigeria is for the middle class to build power. They are the final bastion. The middle class still remember what values are; still believe one must be enterprising to succeed. They want a nation that works. The political elite and proletariat do not seem to care, for they often feel entitled to handouts. They appear to want their piece of the national cake, without working for it. (This is a generalization, of course.)
Someone said something to me that was profound. During End Sars, the middle class rose up presumably to fight on behalf of the lower class. They fed them during the protests. When shots were fired and the middle class sat grieving, this same lower class attacked them in their homes and looted their businesses. They didn’t go for the political class who caused their problems.
The political class and proletariat will turn on you. There is no sustainable coalition to be made, only practical, open-eyed collaborations when needed.
Nigeria will be saved when members of the middle class have power and decide to change Nigeria, without asking for permission.
For more, please read Why I gave up on Nigeria.