Protests in Minna, Osogbo and Kano: A shot across the presidential bow

In naval terminology, “a shot across the bow” refers to a warning salvo of shots by a Naval ship across the bow of a ship approaching an exclusive maritime zone which is intended to compel the ship to either change course or turn back. It is also intended to let the approaching ship know that it is within sight and crosshairs of the defending ship and the next shots might well aim fatally at the middle of the ship, sinking it in the process if the message of the warning shots is not heeded.

Last week there were street protests in Minna, Niger state followed by Osogbo in Osun and Kano over the rising price of foodstuff. There were also threatening outbursts in Lagos by market women protesting over the same subject calling on the authorities, especially President Tinubu, to either do something about the situation urgently or face an uprising next time. While all these were taking place, the president was in France on a 10-day private visit the reasons for which his minders did not see fit to disclose to Nigerians. This is a throwback to what occurred during the preceding administration of President Buhari where the president will without explanation suddenly jet out of the country indefinitely.

In response to the protests, we saw a flurry of activities by the President’s Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, (CoS), the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu (NSA), Finance Minister Wale Edun and Central Bank Governor Yemi Cardoso meeting to discuss the situation and remedies to be applied. Not to be outdone the Senate and House of Representatives waded in with summons to the Finance Minister and CBN Governor to explain among other things the falling value of the naira which is regarded as one of the reasons for the dire straits in which the Nigerian economy finds itself.
Upon return from his private visit to France, President Tinubu approved the release of 102,000 tons of grains as relief to the Nigerian public to cushion the effects of the hardship being experienced in the country. But as everyone knows, this can hardly suffice for one state not to talk of the entire country. And for how long?

The reality is that the rate of inflation is so mind-bogglingly stratospheric beyond comprehension and Nigerians are rapidly getting to the end of their tether with the state of the economy. If the pattern of distribution of the first tranche of palliatives is anything to go by, Nigerians believe that the release of the grains will do too little to assuage the dire socio-economic situation in the country. And if President Tinubu and his advisers ever thought that the derisory release of the drop-in-the-ocean grains would somehow contain the building hunger to anger storm in the country, then the administration must think again.

Nigerians believe with some justification that the removal of subsidies by the Tinubu administration is the principal cause of the economic hardship being experienced in the country and nothing short of reversing the policy can resolve the situation. Before the implementation of the policy and even a couple of months after, many Nigerians supported and hailed it as a bold even though necessarily painful move. But eight months on without the necessary economic plan to prop it up, more and more Nigerians are realising that President Tinubu threw the country under the bus for reasons best known to him and his close circle of advisers.

With a bag of rice hitting N77,000, Maize going for N60,000, Beans at N75,000 and virtually every item and service in the market quadrupling in price without any hope of coming down, it is not surprising that people have taken to the streets around the country to show their anger. And Nigerians are miffed that President Tinubu and his economic policy advisers appear not to have any cogent or coherent explanations on what can realistically be done in the long run. Indeed while President Tinubu treats the matter with a rather disappointing emilokanist entitlement and finality, his Finance Minister Wale Edun who is expected to flesh out the details of the economic strategies to get us out of the current woods has arrogantly kept himself away from Nigerians. Similarly, the CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso at the National Assembly briefing appeared out of his depth on the issues of the falling value of the naira of which he is expected to provide expert clarity. The rest of President Tinubu’s cut-and-paste policy wonks appear cut in the same cloth.

If there is anybody in the Tinubu administration able to take a nuanced perspective on the protests taking place in the country, they should know that it is a shot across the bow of the administration. It is not ethnic or religion-based. And it is not the work of “political enemies” either in the opposition or within the ruling party. It is simply a legitimate reaction to an economic issue which cuts across the country by its effects and which was spawned by an ill-considered and incompetently handled implementation.

President Tinubu was warned by well-meaning Nigerians against embarking on this policy and even after he had done it, there had been calls on him to review and reverse the policy in his own and the country’s interest. There are examples of countries around the world who having seen the negative consequences of similar policies took the courage to reverse it.

But having sown the wind, President Tinubu is now reaping the whirlwind which the protests being witnessed in the country are but an ominous foretaste of what is likely to come soon. The time is soon coming when the administration will have to choose between pandering to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as he is doing now or the specific national interest of Nigerians and Nigeria. And let us hope that the next shots on the ship may not be mid-ship.

Gadu can be reached via [email protected] or 08035355706 (texts only).