Letter To The Editor: The Alarming Rate Of ‘Sponsored’ Protests

When it rains, it pours. Pouring in the state of Osun are agitations. Agitations left, right and centre. Issues of the senatorial zone which takes the baton from Governor Rauf Aregbesola is the cause. Osogbo Indigenes (Central) say it is their turn, Ife from East wants a shot, the West is shouting alienation, and the rest of us do not know where to turn.

Protests have become a means to pressing home their demands; hence, it is the season of protests in the land of virtue.

Of course, Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution as well as Article 11 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, grant the right to assemble to voice our disdain against a policy or demand our right from the government, individuals, and organized bodies.

Even then, the agitation for and against zoning in the two concurrent protests held in Osogbo recently had been alleged to be organized act of desperation, sponsored by gladiators whose interests are being danced to. The most agonizing thing is that when the result comes, none of the protesters will eat from the fruit of their endeavors.

Fingered in this has been the youth. Perhaps they should even be ashamed of themselves, I am. They massively contribute to the worldwide impression that Nigerian youths are rogues, lazy and a manipulative tool in the hands of money bags with acts like this. It shows those we are looking up to tomorrow can still be used by politicians to dance to their tunes.

This has left me to ask this billion dollars question which I would love everyone in this part of the world to ruminate on. Why, despite all America’s problems, there are no anti-Trump demonstrations by US citizens, intellectual? So, why do we resort to one anytime we have issues to resolve? Mostly sponsored protests have not helped matter.

Protests like this leave a bad taste in the mouth. So, hands should not be folded, proactive measures must be taken to halt this act capable of sullying the state’s Omoluabi reputation. Asides, mischievous elements in the state may soon begin to catch on this perceived abnormality to achieve their self-serving interest and would become a norm in the state.