In a recent report by Punch, human rights lawyer and Professor of Law at the University of Jos, Nnamdi Aduba, criticized individuals such as Bayo Onanuga for their current condemnation of protests, highlighting a notable inconsistency in their stance. Aduba pointed out that these same individuals participated in demonstrations when the South-West region was not in power, suggesting that their current opposition is influenced by their positions of authority.
Aduba stressed the hypocrisy of condemning protests now while having actively engaged in them in the past. He noted that the South-West was once a hub of demonstrations, particularly when its representatives were not in power, implying that the change in perspective is self-serving and lacks genuine commitment to democratic principles.
The professor argued that the public’s resort to protests is a direct result of the failure of conventional communication channels with the government. According to Aduba, when official avenues for expressing grievances and seeking redress are ineffective or ignored, citizens are left with no choice but to turn to protests as an alternative means of communication.
Aduba emphasized that the public’s frustration stems from a perceived breakdown in dialogue between the government and its citizens. This breakdown forces people to use protests as a way to make their voices heard and to push for necessary changes. He highlighted the irony of government officials who once championed protests now trying to stifle them. He further suggested that those in power should reflect on their past actions and recognize the importance of maintaining open channels of communication with the public.
According to him, “Bayo Onanuga and others, who are talking now; ask them, when the South-West was not in power, were they not demonstrating?. Was it not the capital of demonstration then?. So, why are you now reading meanings into a decision of people to demonstrate? It is because the normal channels of communication have collapsed, that is why the public is responding through the unorthodox one.”….Seë_Morë