By the time the dust settles and the story of the EndSARS protests is written for future reference, the discourse will encapsulate many dimensions of the protests, including movie-like scenes of chaos and looting.
As acknowledged by all, the EndSARS protests started well, was orderly too, and gained momentum without issues until government’s mismanagement of the Lekki side of it. Since then, it has been free for all. The arson and looting that started in Lagos, have since spread to other parts of the country.
In all these looting spree, there are lessons to take away. For the authorities, there is now an opportunity to re-evaluate their relationship with those they lead. Giving citizens silent treatment in the face of national angst or condemning youth for their demand for one thing or the other would not help. Every citizen’s grievance should be seen as an opportunity to improve governance.
Uncompleted projects litter the country because they were abandoned after the ceremonial foundation-laying ceremony and after the contractor must have collected part of the money. For God’s sake where did this nonsense come from? When I watch foreign news channels, I do not see the president or governor commissioning small projects including sharing of foods. One governor was said to be waiting to distribute the food on his birthday. Common, this is belittling.
There was no ‘revolt of oppression’. What we had were arsonists and anarchists on the rampage.