Following the hunger protests led by young Nigerians, a Pastor in Charge of Region 45 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, in Federal Capital Territory, Pastor Mike Ayanbode has urged all levels of governments in Nigeria to show genuine concerns to the suffering plight of many Nigerians as he implored aggrieved citizens to refrain from vandalizing public and private properties in their agitation.
Ayanbode gave this advice while commenting on the #Endbadgovernaceinnigeria protests during an exclusive interview with The Impact Newspaper recently.
The cleric underlined the importance of protest as a tool for amplifying the voice of citizens whose concerns have been overlooked. He explained that when done in a non-violent manner, protests can be an effective means of demonstrating to the government the seriousness and urgency of the issues at hand. He asserted that consistent and sustained protests, free from destruction or violence, can help to drive home the message and spur the government to action.
He pointed that the costs of repairing damaged property will be borne by the same public fund that citizens are demanding be allocated more equitably. He cautioned that the destruction of property will not only be financially detrimental but also undermine the legitimacy of the protests and cause more harm than good.
In his words: “For me I support peaceful protest but the idea of people going to vandalize other people’s shops and destroying public properties doesn’t make any sense and it is uncalled for. We are crying that we don’t have infrastructure and the little that we have, in the moment of rage, we are destroying it. It is the money that we are crying that is not enough that they will use to repair and replace them. There is nothing wrong with protest but there is something fundamentally wrong with violence protest, destructions of lives and properties.
“We want good governance, we want the leaders to put in place policies that will be of benefits to the masses and move the nation forward. That is what protest is all about and when they see that you are serious they listen. After all, this protest has started yielding results, as it stands they are removing taxes from essential commodities. Why were they not doing that before? Until they heard that there will be protest.”
Highlighting the multifaceted nature of the challenges facing the nation, the reputable clergyman stated that while the country does indeed face significant leadership issues, citizens also bear a portion of the responsibility. He underscored that the problems afflicting the country are not solely attributable to leadership failures but are also exacerbated by individual actions or inactions.
Illustrating the issue with an analogy, the PICR referenced the biblical character of Esau, who traded his birthright for a mere bowl of stew. He drew a parallel to citizens who, for material gain, have relinquished their right to vote credible candidates and thereby lost the ability to influence the political landscape. He asserted that by accepting material rewards in exchange for their democratic rights, these citizens have contributed to the problem of poor governance and undermine their own future well-being.
Pastor Ayanbode also painted a lack of discipline among many citizens as a contributing factor to the country’s difficulties. He observed that individuals often disregard simple laws and regulations, such as traffic rules, and engage in dishonest practices like tampering with electricity meters to reduce the amount of money owed to the government. He stated that such actions not only harm the country’s infrastructure and economy but also reflect a culture of lawlessness and a disregard for the common good that is at odds with the values necessary for a thriving society.
The clergyman advised the Nigerian government to set an example for its citizens by living up to its own standards. He underlined the hypocrisy of a government that calls on citizens to live sacrificial lives while engaging in lavish spending and corruption. He argued that good governance and public trust are mutually reinforcing and that a government that acts in accordance with its own principles is more likely to inspire a spirit of civic responsibility and cooperation of its citizens.
