Is Nigeria ripe for a revolution?

Neither Mallam Garba Shehu, the spokesman of President Buhari, nor the President himself will enjoy conversation about revolution even if it is an idle conversation, and even if it is a “phantom revolution”. They quite know that the grievances of the massacre of villagers, displacements of villages and towns, incessant kidnappings, daylight armed robbery, job […]

Neither Mallam Garba Shehu, the spokesman of President Buhari, nor the President himself will enjoy conversation about revolution even if it is an idle conversation, and even if it is a “phantom revolution”. They quite know that the grievances of the massacre of villagers, displacements of villages and towns, incessant kidnappings, daylight armed robbery, job racketeering, admission racketeering, youth unemployment, hunger and starvation, child and maternal mortality rate, growing intolerance are real, and they do exist. Thus, whether Nigerians had boycotted the call for revolution or not, is another issue.

But the pertinent question to be asked is: Is Nigeria ripe for Revolution? Is there class feeling in Nigeria? The upper class who rule, who control the party machinery, the commanding heights of the economy, who own the private universities and first class private secondary and primary schools, the owners of the most expensive private hospitals and clinics, the controllers of banking, insurance, stock exchange market, shipping lines, the proprietors of media, are quite happy with the existing condition. While the poor who own nothing, who are being exploited and taxed are indifferent to their plight, then how is revolution possible under this arrangement?

The intelligentsias in our universities are divided along party lines. Some have compromised and co-opted into the upper class. Others have joined the bandwagon. Do we have the likes of late Dr. Yusufu Bala Usman?, Tai Solarin, Patrick Wilmot etc? Then how possible is revolution in Nigeria?

The Media: There is no way you can have a revolution without fearless journalists like Dele Giwa. Today the media are owned by the political class, thus revolution is impossible.

The Students: Do we have readers among our students? How many of our students read writings of J.J. Rousseau, Karl Marx and Frederic Engels, Frantz Fanon, what about the medieval philosophies etc? Then forget about any revolution.

What about activists like Beko Ransome  Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Wole Soyinka, Ken Saro Wiwa, Femi Falana, Shehu Sani? Some of them who are alive are either very old, or have joined the bandwagon. We lack activists caliber like the above-mentioned.

Ideology: How can you talk of Revolution when all the political parties and elites share the same capitalists’ manifesto? From French Revolution of the 18th Century to Napoleonic wars, American revolution (war of independence) to Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 were ideologically oriented. Whether it was overthrew of monarchy or championing new economic system or all of the above.

Workers’ Union: When Sowore declared his revolution, the faction of Nigerian Labour Congress was among the bodies that distanted itself. Don’t be surprised because, worker’s leaders today are part of the aristocracy. They are either fighting position in boards of ministries like what transpired between Chris Ngige and Ayuba Wabba or after retirement you would find them appointed as commissioners or even get elected as governors. But they lack the moral and morale to advocate or support any revolution even if it is not a phantom revolution. We no longer have labour union leaders of those days like Attahiru Jega, Iyayi, Michel Imoudu  etc.

What every Nigerian is supposed to understand is that there will be no freedom, no prosperity under the current system. Already they have compromised the war against corruption; they are also recycling themselves from governors to senators, to president etc. All what you need when you steal money is to join the party at the helm of the affairs. Danjuma Goje was acquitted because he withdrew for Ahmad Lawan. I hope one day Talaka will awake.

 

Comrade Bishir Dauda Sabuwar Unguwa Katsina.