By Barminas Walshak Danat, Esq.

The ongoing nationwide protest that commenced on 1st August, 2024 that would expectantly be lasting for ten days to 10th August, 2024 has come with a mighty force that has shaken the foundations of the Nigerian nation. This has further demonstrated once again, how gradually our democracy will be evolving as the masses become more and more conscious and aware of their rights over and over again.

Indeed, the heat of the protest has sent a very strong message to the ruling class. This is why in the build up to the protest, calls had come from various angles on the need to shelve it but it still went on regardless. The beautiful thing about this is that the anger of the Nigerian masses has been communicated to the ruling class loud and clear. The ruling class is now aware that the people’s constituency cannot be taken for granted anymore.

Special commendations must be given to the protesters in Plateau state whose peaceful conduct became a very elaborate reference point for expert analysts and commentators who have made various calls from various quarters on the other protesters across the country to toe the path of peace and conduct themselves in the most civil manner in total emulation of the example set by the Plateau state branch of the #EndBadGovernance protesters. I must therefore most sincerely join other commentators to express my admiration to the coordinators of the protest in Plateau state for doing their best to do whatever it takes to make sure that even in the midst of the protest, the fragile peace we currently enjoy in the state is not compromised. This indeed shows that the general motive behind the protest in Plateau state is quite noble and patriotic. Special commendation equally goes to the Plateau State Government under the able leadership of H.E. Hon Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful protest witnessed across the State in recognition of the constitutionally guaranteed right of citizens to peacefully express themselves.

However, dear compatriots, you will all agree with me in totality that the good intention of the protest was short-lived when hoodlums broke into our ranks as a people and began to cause the destruction and vandalisation of properties in some areas of Jos North Local Government Area. I will at this point once again, very sincerely express my admiration to the organizers for being very sensitive enough to immediately suspend the protest to outsmart the hoodlums from further infiltrating and hijacking the process. This is the kind of superior intelligence which you, my dear compatriots, exhibited that will always make me proud to identify myself as a Plateau youth; in this spirit, I will continue to walk with my shoulders high as a proud son of Plateau state. Also worthy of further commendation is the proactive steps taken by the Plateau State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to immediately put a stop to any plan to temper with the hard earned peace we are enjoying in the state. This shows to us very clearly that we have a very sensitive Government in Plateau State that understands the needs of the people and is able to listen and respond swiftly to both the outspoken and the silent voices. This is the kind of partnership we need, to continue to have Plateau state on the world map of greatness as our unique talents continue to reverberate across the globe.

Dear comrades, I believe that the message of the protest has been well delivered just within three days of its execution. Going by the recent events, we can no longer guarantee that the hoodlums who infiltrated our ranks have been adequately neutralized and completely eliminated because even with the curfew in Jos and Bukuru metropolis, pockets of resistance are still being witnessed in some areas of the state. To avoid any further escalation of their nefarious activities therefore, may I bumbly and very passionately appeal that the protest be called off immediately. The message already sent just within the three days of the protest is enough to call on the attention of the ruling class to sit up to their responsibilities. We must know that we the people of Nigeria and especially, Plateau State, have attained a level of intelligence and sophistication that should be able to empower us to block every loophole that will promote unwholesome activities aimed at crippling and strangulating a worthy and noble cause that seeks to end bad governance and allow power to truly reside with the people. We should beware that we have demonstrated the capacity to neutralize any bad elements planted among us to cause any form of confusion that would prematurely end a well intentioned and positively motivated struggle. We should once again therefore, demonstrate this superior intelligence by immediately calling off the protest in the interest of peace and tranquility.

As an Aspirant for the position of Chairman of the Plateau Youth Council, I am assuring you that when we get there by the grace of God Almighty, the foundation that has been laid is a solid one that we can build upon wherein going forward, we shall have a protest that will be well coordinated with a clearly identified and verifiable leadership and ideology. In the coming years, you will have the assurance that agitations such as this will no longer be pursued and prosecuted by faceless persons but by fearless comrades ready to pay the supreme sacrifices for our freedom as a people. Many strategies will be adopted by our leadership to provide a very strong voice for the youths. We shall make sure that we set the ball rolling for all forms of agitations with clear cut ideologies to ensure that there is justice, equity and fairness to all Plateau youths regardless of any form of inclinations. We will make sure that protests do not only end on the streets but beyond and away from the streets; we can prosecute different forms of agitations that will yield very positive results.

I therefore once again, plead with you dear compatriots, that there may be no need to resume the ongoing/suspended protest in Plateau State but to call it off completely because its message has been communicated loud and crystal clear.

Barminas Walshak Danat is a lawyer, youth activist, a community mobilizer, an advocate for justice and good governance as well as an Aspirant for Chairmanship of Plateau Youth Council at the State level.

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Breakdown of Law and Order/Looting and Vandalization of Property in Jos North: The Need to Immediately Call Off the Protest in Plateau State