By Sunday Olugbenga Abire, Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor of Ondo State
Democracy is rich and it’s rooted in the preservation of certain sacred fundamentals. Every democratic setting is filled with discordant views and a fine blend is made possible with the plurality of votes of a free people. This is why it’s governed by free choices, whether in support or against. No tyrant is ever a democrat and no tyrant can attain the pinnacle of democracy without experiencing a Saul-Paul conversion.
However, democracy flavours in different categories of freedom and freedom of expression is one fundamental blessing of democracy. Expression can mean protest when a dissonance is created. It is agreement when it synchronizes. Whichever form expression takes, it is called engagement. This is the beauty of democracy.
The Arab uprising of 2011 was a calculated hatred against the government. The inferno began in Tunisia as a repugnance to corruption, nepotism, unemployment and economic inclemency. Like fire, five other Arab countries, Libya, Yemen, Egypt, Syria and Bahrain caught the bug. It was all fierce while darkness enveloped the Arabian world.
Before anyone could say jack, rulers suffered violent rejection. Ben Ali of Tunisia, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Ali Saleh of Yemen were riotously edged out of their thrones by angry mobs. These leaders didn’t back down without a fight. They struggled to keep their power as citizens suffered attack. Many were maimed, killed and properties destroyed. Life was brutish, solitary, nasty and poor during the power struggle.
Interestingly, the revolution ended but the scourges of war remain with these countries today. With the wanton killings that characterized the 2011 Arab uprising, can we say they got what they died for? Are these countries better today? Could the people have devised a better means to engender responsible leadership? What are the lessons for us as a people?
Governor Aiyedatiwa was propelled by the excruciating pains of the Arab uprising and Endsars protests as he moved quickly to avert a resurgence in Ondo state. As a leader who’s blessed with the signs of time, he protested first against hunger when he approved the sum of two billion naira as additional intervention fund to enhance food security while directly making farming enjoyable for Ondo farmers. It is the strong feeling of the Governor that any nation that cannot feed itself will always remain subservient to others.
Aware that the youths of every nation represents its strength, purpose and future, Governor Aiyedatiwa gathered Ondo youths to engage them. Aiyedatiwa pointedly agreed that there were issues. He identified with the plights of the people of Ondo state and Nigeria. He appealed passionately to all citizens to shun violence as our nation navigates through this painful but inevitable situation.
He sought the understanding of the people to keep hope alive as leaders work assiduously to reposition things. In the place of protest that could be hijacked by enemies of democracy, the Governor called for peaceful dialogue through various platforms that are available. While enumerating the beautiful plans that his administration and that of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu have for the people, the Governor likened the present predicaments to the pang of childbirth which will be a thing of joy soon.
Undoubtedly, there is hope for our state and country if we faint not. It is a great disservice to allow arsonists take over our heritage and make this land purchased with the sweat and blood of our forebears ungovernable. A peaceful protest that can be overtaken by hoodlums because of the mood of the nation should be averted in the collective interest of all. We can’t claim to love our freedom when our actions are capable of obliterating the foundation upon which our freedom is built. That will be suicidal. That will be too much ignorance on our part. The wisdom of the elders suggests that a man with a white robe must avoid the sight of red oil.
In addition, using our church minds, the argument to either engage in peaceful protest or not, like Paul’s warning to the Corinthians who were confused about eating or not eating meat offered to idols, has been settled long ago in one of the letters of Paul, the Apostle, to the Corinthians. The entire letter in 1Corinthians 8: 1-13 is summarised:
“Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend”.
Therefore, if a peaceful protest that is capable of being hijacked by hoodlums will destroy your country, it is a patriotic service if you avoid it.
Peoplesmind
