Lessons Tinubu Should Learn From Kenya Protests (EDITORIAL).
Most of African people are so impoverished that they lack strength to oppose policies and programmes of their government. They have been thoroughly beaten to a pulp with poverty as the main whip. But whenever they rise or they get stamina to resist antipeople policies, it’s often disastrous and may consume the government entirely.
William Ruto, the Kenyan president, has bowed to the pressure even though he was strong-headed when his people trooped out in their large number to oppose the so-called finance bill. He sounded tough while deploying military personnel to crack down on the same people that employed him and the soldiers. The resistance was so strong that the people refused to leave the streets. They even stormed the parliament taking away the maze, the tool of oppression.
President Bola Tinubu should know that just like the Kenyans are angry and hungry and feeling the pain of the jackboot of inflation, Nigerians are also crying, still trying to be unnecessarily resilient. They are frustrated and can explode any moment from now, at least they have got some inspiration from East Africa (Kenya).
Kenya’s President William Ruto, dancing to the tune of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) introduced the tax plan, which critics have said would further plunge the people into abyssal poverty. The new tax would help to generate more funds to offset most of the bills. The IMF likes statistics which doesn’t in any way have effects on the people. Kenya is said to be among the 27 fastest growing economies in the world, yet its people are languishing in poverty, hardship, just like the way Nigerians currently are.
Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu has also embraced the IMF’s market money and free trade. He listened to the arguments of the financial institution and employed its models. The subsidy on petroleum was abruptly removed and the commodity increased sporadically.
His administration received a pat in the back from the IMF, which also encouraged him to remove subsidy on electricity. Band A customers have to pay more than N200 per kilowatt now from N66. The market economy or free trade can’t work in Africa where unemployment is rife.
Not only that he decided to “float” naira knowing full well that Nigeria is still a consuming nation that has almost nothing to export to help the currency slug it out with the United States dollar. Now, the Nigeria’s currency is adjudged the worst performing currency in the world. It’s saddening that the more the political leaders take instructions from the IMF, the worse the conditions of the people become.
And if things continue this way, the people of the country may get inspiration from their brothers in Kenya and attempt to take the government. This particular opinion has been shared by several political analysts including Senator Shehu Sani.
The presidency was on the verge of introducing the now abandoned Cyber Security Charges on bank transactions. The Senate, just like in Kenya, has passed the bill. In fact, the Central Bank of Nigeria had released a circular to the banks to begin operations on the CSC. Nigerians reacted on social media including X and Facebook.
Taxing people to make them bleed seems to have become a pattern in any country that follows the path of the IMF. When you squeeze the people till no fluid is in them, they will fight back and resist just as the Kenyans have done.
At least twenty people were confirmed dead in the protests that turned violent when military personnel cracked down on the people. It was peaceful until the use of force was considered appropriate. Despite the casualties, the people were undaunted. They were ready to fight to the end. President Bola Tinubu had better learn from the Kenya’s Protests.
Follow us on social media
