The Hunger Protests, Deja Vu & Onyeka

Femi Akintunde-Johnson

The political class were in frenzy in the days leading to the 1 August date slated for the nationwide protests, ominously dubbed “Days of Rage” – despite protestations of protest enthusiasts that it was meant to be a peaceful activity geared towards gingering those in control of the levers of state to deal a fairer hand to the Nigerian people. The cost of living in Nigeria was becoming overwhelmingly unaffordable. 

On the other hand, with a sense of deja vu as result of the gruesome effects and devastating woes that truncated the October 2020 EndSARS protests, the political class viewed any and every protest championed by the Nigerian youth without clear-as-daylight leadership or accountable structure as recipe for disaster. The law enforcement agencies pressured the protest organisers to shelve the idea without much luck. The apparatchiks of state and their supporters  deployed threats (including ancestral visitations), fear-mongering, dialogue-baiting, possible foreign infiltration by undisclosed, tough-talking anti-protest protesters, and other gimmicks, fair and ‘somehow’, but the fire-spitting organisers did not take the bait. Deja vu.

  Worried observers and stakeholders in a peaceful and prosperous nationhood pitched in, asking for serious dialogue in dealing frontally with the multi-pronged demands of the protesters which, on some levels, cannot be dealt with by ‘political’ government or its officials, unless through long-winding democratic channels. Some counselled that a more reasonable and effective approach is to sit at a roundtable with the highest figures of the federal structure, including the president, Senate president (whose latest gaffe rankled the youth further by his “those who want to protest can protest, but let us be here eating” cant), and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

The protest leaders would be protected by the force of this legitimate and righteous assignment endorsed by the majority of Nigerian people who are indeed bent low by the current crushing hardship. That it was time to identify the protest leaders and coordinators, if indeed there is no other agenda behind the agitation, and submit themselves completely to the onerous duty of speaking and deliberating on behalf of the voiceless people of Nigeria without fear or folly. 

 Of course, every struggle has its pitfalls and hazards, but such is the overwhelming backing of many Nigerians for a present and tangible change in their economic and health affairs that the state would rather treat them with soft gloves and due regard – especially as they are pursuing their actions in a nonviolent, responsible manner.

  Such a great opportunity was missed in 2020. We cried that we should not miss another in 2024. But the sour story remains the same. Now that the protests have begun in diverse forms, as I write this Thursday after, we do not know how it will end. Such perilous exercise is fraught with uncertainties that could easily have been averted. We all could see that the government was jittery about the recurrence of wanton destruction of lives and property as witnessed aftermath of the #EndSARS protests in many parts of Nigeria four years ago. Some states and non-state actors have not gotten over the trauma. Their fears were understandable and reasonable.

Consequently, most governments, especially at federal level, had started churning out remedial interventions, reversing obnoxious economic and financial policies, and fast tracking amelioratory programmes to assuage the hungry and angry droves, and stimulate commerce and industry. We do not know how much impact these effects would have, but they were non-existent prior to the call for “Days of Rage”.

Our people (read the crusading Nigerian youth) should have added the weight of constant and unrelenting nudge and push on the backs of the government so that they do not put their feet off the pedals that have been set in motion. Sadly, we seem to prioritise grandstanding and saber-rattling to conscious and proactive engagement with powers that are. Yet, neither the government, and its numerous agencies, nor the protest organisers can immediately stop the slide into anarchy, arson and pillaging when the usual hijackers exploit the opportunity of over-running unpoliced empty spaces.

Hopefully, it is not too late. Let us have a parley with the government, and avoid bloodletting – whether it is in error or deliberate is a needless wastage. While no one can fault the urgency and necessity of your course, all attention would easily shift from the gains that could have accrued, and be looking for culprits and victims in the event of any mishaps, however minute the incident, or whoever is the activator. 

  We must make haste while the streets are bloodless.

ONYEKA ONWENU: AND THE BEAT STOPPED

In this climate of protestations against failures of the Nigerian government in taking adequate care of its citizen is exactly the atmosphere that prompts her spirit to wax lyrically high, and find comfort in words and tunes that seek to draw the ears of government people to the need to do good, and quickly, to our youth and women. You see, the exponent of Love is also a fighter for social justice and equity. And she had many scars to show for that.

Nigeria’s superstar, properly so called, is gone. Onyekachi Onwenu, a proud daughter of Arondizuogu, died while alive doing what she loved, served and slaved for: singing to bring joy and hope to people. On Tuesday, 30 July, 2024 she was serenading the Lagos guests of Dr. Stella Okoli (owner of Emzor Pharmaceuticals), a long time admirer whom she stretched her schedule to honour. She had planned to sing two songs, and join the others as guests, enjoying the adoring glances of the 80-year old celebrant. Then, because her fans wanted more, the siren of songs the Nigerian media have dubbed ‘Elegant Stallion’ for over 35 years, could not stop performing – two or so more songs beyond her plan, she collapsed at the behest of her strained heart. The mother of Tijani and Abraham was helped to a high-brow hospital by a coterie of high society. But it was not enough; her beautiful heart stopped the music on the evening of Tuesday, 30 July, 2024 – she was 72 in January, 2024.

In fond memory of the timelessly elegant songstress, we have dug out this 1999 memento in praise of her astute positioning in the annals of Nigerian entertainment: 

 “She broke into our musical consciousness in 1981 with ‘Everlasting Love’; caressed us with ‘For The Love of You’ (1982); sucked us in with ‘In The Morning Light’ (1984) and knocked us out cold with ‘One Love’ in 1985.

 By the time she was ‘Dancing in the Sun’ in 1988, the entire country had come to accept (and cherish) her talent, doggedness, intelligence, strong will and charismatic aloofness. Nigerians could not but declare in suppressed amazement that Onyekachi Onwenu (48 on January 28, 2000) is the authentic Elegant Stallion.

  If a toll is taken, it will become crystal clear to all that Onyeka runs one of the most disciplined bands, perhaps the most consistent private recording-rehearsal studio and a brand new all-purpose amphitheatre, The Unity Centre. Onyeka’s current status will restore confidence in Nigerian womanhood such that the new flag will read: behind every successful woman is a woman of steely resolve and indefatigable resourcefulness.”

• (The conclusion of Olumese@80: ‘My Niteshift Coliseum Odyssey’ shall return next).