The Power and Necessity of Peaceful Protest:
As Nigeria faces mounting challenges, the upcoming Hunger Protest presents a crucial opportunity to advocate for change through peaceful means. A peaceful protest, also known as nonviolent resistance or nonviolent action, involves expressing disapproval through a statement or action without resorting to violence. This form of protest is essential for making our voices heard without causing harm or destruction.
It's within our rights to protest peacefully, but it is not within our rights to engage in violence. The essence of nonviolent protest is rooted in courage, understanding, and a commitment to justice. As Martin Luther King Jr. stated, "Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people; nonviolence seeks to win friendships and understanding; nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice or evil, not people; nonviolence holds that unearned, voluntary suffering for a just cause can educate and transform."
Who Are We Fighting For?
When a group of people advocates for change in Nigeria, it often leads to oppression, affecting those they claim to fight for. For example, Boko Haram's actions primarily impacted poor farmers who had nothing to do with national policies. Similarly, recent protests have negatively affected the poor. It's crucial to ask ourselves: Who are we truly fighting for?
A friend sent me a video allegedly showing a protest at FCE Akoka, Lagos, where a student was reportedly shot by the police. The video showed people, presumably students, destroying cars. Such actions undermine the very purpose of our protest. It’s within our right to protest peacefully but not to engage in violence.
If you come from a home that advocates peace, there’s no way you will be violent. As the protest begins tomorrow, let’s get it right for once. Many predict that the protest will turn violent; let's prove them wrong. Security agencies should also conduct themselves professionally. This protest is not a do-or-die affair.
I am not affiliated with any government agency or organization. My advocacy for peace in this protest is driven by good conscience. If we are truly advocating for a better Nigeria, there is no need to be violent against our brethren. Don't give security agencies a reason to retaliate. Remember, most videos from the protest will be posted online, and law enforcement can track you down with nowhere to hide if you have evil intentions.
If politicians or the government are flawed, it is within our purview to correct these errors through peaceful protest. Looting and destroying properties are not valid forms of protest. This is a great opportunity to rewrite the wrongs peacefully. Remember, many government workers and private practitioners are dedicated to their jobs with integrity and honesty there's no reason to see them as an enemy.
King's Six Principles for Nonviolent Action
1. Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people.
2. Nonviolence seeks to win friendships and understanding.
3. Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice or evil, not people.
4. Nonviolence holds that unearned, voluntary suffering for a just cause can educate and transform.
Hunger is the distress associated with a lack of food, a weakened condition from prolonged food deprivation. Millions of Nigerians have been in these conditions for too long. The Hunger Protest should remind us that we are one, with different views, but equal rights. May those trying to hijack this protest and turn it violent never succeed.
Peaceful protest is a powerful tool for political statements and a constitutionally protected form of expression. When executed effectively, a public demonstration can broadcast your message to a significant audience. Gather like-minded people and make a case for why protest action is necessary. Let us use this opportunity to advocate for a better Nigeria peacefully and constructively. Written by Daniel Okonkwo for Profile Internati
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onal Human Rights Advocate
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