Daughters of Chibok: That this carnival may end…

The abduction of close to 300 schoolgirls in Chibok last month by the dreaded Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has continued to receive global condemnation, even as civil society groups, non-governmental organisations and persons have similarly trooped out on the streets protesting the unfortunate incident. Little is, however, known about the theatrics of some of the protesters whose intention of joining others to demand the release of the hapless girls is best known to them, writes EMMANUEL ADENIYI.

The placards are of different sizes. Those carrying them, too, differ in age and physical structures.
With the same T-shirts – on which were printed different messages – the protesters, mostly women, walked through major roads across the country singing, crying, while some even danced to the a capella of mourning and unheard rhythm of sorrow.
Overtly, their common goal is to press for the release of schoolgirls abducted by the Mallam Abubakar Shekau-led Boko Haram, yet their intentions are not the same.
In fact, if Shekau still had his humanity intact, the torrent of shouts, wails and a capella of sadness rendered by the protesters would move him to tears and instantly order the release of the girls.
However, that is not to be. Boko Haram is impervious to tears and wails. As a terrorist organisation, one of its stratagems is to cow people into obedience by instilling fear in them. It rather derives joy seeing people crying and wailing.
Protesters with different intentions
While some of the protesters wailed genuinely and wearied themselves with a hoarse cry, some took pleasure in doing things that were not in any way related to the purpose of their protest.
Some of them were even seen taking photograph with their phones and cameras, while many grinned with delight and exchanged pleasantries with friends.
“You came?”, one of the protesters, smartly dressed in a red T-shirt and black jeans trousers, asked another woman along Mokola-Roundabout in Ibadan when they left Adamasingba Stadium, venue of an interdenominational prayer session organised by the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi for the release of the kidnapped girls last Thursday.
The women, in their hundreds, had formed a long queue along Mokola-Adamasingba road and were on their way to the state secretariat in Agodi to stage the mother of all protests.
“I never knew you were here too,” replied the woman, who was in her late 40s. It wasn’t long after they exchanged pleasantries that they invited a cameraman, who had patiently trailed the protesters photographing those who dressed sleekly among them and making quick money from them, to snap them.
He didn’t waste time to do that as other people were waiting for him to use his camera to photograph their red and black outfit – a token of their sacrifice paid to secure the release of Chibok daughters.
Among the protesters were some who seized the opportunity to hawk their wares. A number of them, who did not mind what brought them outside, also bought some items useful for them at home.
In Abuja, Lagos, Benin, Kaduna and other places where people took to the streets protesting the abduction of Chibok daughters, most of the protesters displayed nonchalance. Their attitude sold them out. Their concern was not about the hapless girls; they had merely jumped on the bandwagon to seek attention.
Display of theatrics…
It was observed that most of the protesters did not know the essence of their protest. As shown by Ibadan protesters, market women and artisans turned the protest to a social gathering, while some rolled on the ground as though their display of emotions would make Boko Haram change its mind.
Attack on government
Some individuals, who have been looking for the opportunity to vent their spleen on government, it was learnt, found an opportunity in the street protests, as “paid” speakers took turn to criticise the government for its alleged slow response in rescuing the girls.
The Federal Government, according to them, should be blamed for the abduction, because of its failure to provide security in the schools. Their claim created a wrong impression that the government had prior knowledge of the abduction.
Would the Federal Government have left its citizens at the mercy of the merciless terrorists? If it did, what could be its aim? Many questions beg for answers as far as the Chibok abduction saga is concerned.
The protests, it was learnt, have even been hijacked by politicians who used it to lampoon the government. Some used the occasion to campaign and ridicule the ruling government before their audience as a means to score cheap political goals.
“It has been politicised,” a foremost lawyer, who doesn’t want his name in print, observed. Creating political intrigue out of the misfortune of others, according to him, reveals the capacity of Nigerian politicians to play mischief with issues of national importance.
Culture of protests and demonstrations among Nigerians
Taking to the streets to protest wrongdoing or demonstrating against unpopular government’s policy is not a bad idea. After all, the beauty of a democratic society lies in people speaking out their minds. Citizens have a voice in a democracy and they are allowed to speak out their minds when occasion calls for it.
Nigerians know this too well, hence their penchant for protests and demonstrations. The popular demonstration nationwide against the unpopular cancellation of the June 12, 1993 presidential election comes to mind. The demonstration eventually forced the then military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), out of power.
The subsequent protests against the military junta after Babangida government and the call for the return of democracy in the country also contributed to the eventual return of Nigeria to democratic rule in 1999.
Similarly, the nationwide protest against the removal of petrol subsidy in January 2012 forced President Goodluck Jonathan to rescind its decision on the blanket removal of the subsidy.

 While this uproar lasted, either the call for the military to hand over power to democratic government or petrol subsidy removal, Nigerians were unanimous in their demands. Their passion was phenomenal and their unity of purpose fetched them results. There was no time for irrelevancies; the nation was mourning and the need to wipe away its tears was dear to them.

In a way, the culture of protest is entrenched in the country. Protest affords many the opportunity to convey their feelings to government, especially when government fails to recognise or closes its eyes to social intelligence, which it ought to latch on with a view to formulating policies or adjusting its programmes.
However, the Chibok-abduction-induced protest has a different shade. The enemy, though known, is unmoved by the charade of wails and cries of most of the protesting women who really did not understand why they were asked to come out to protest. You could perceive confusion in their troubled looks, although some enjoyed the moment as though their lives depended on it.
The mindset of terrorists
Terrorists have no souls! Their conscience is hardened and their joy is fuelled by the wails and agonising pains of their victims.
The fact is that everybody has become a victim; no one is left off the hook, not even the president who is ensconced in his heavily guarded Aso Rock Villa, because a surge of adrenaline is experienced in the body whenever the news of Boko Haram attack is heard.
The mindset of terrorists is filled with evils. They are emissaries of fear and death, and nothing gladdens their hearts other than seeing their victims live in the shadow of fear.
Ultimately, when people – victims of Boko Haram – take to the streets crying and rolling on the ground, its ego is gratified. It is pleasing to Boko Haram seeing mothers of the abducted girls protest. He, Boko Haram, a metaphorical purveyor of sorrow, is delighted seeing other women cry as well.
Call for action, not display of charade
If there is anything needed to contain the activities of the dreaded sect, it is to take action against it. Full military action may not be out of place, while not foreclosing the possibility of engaging it in dialogue.
War against terrorism is hard to fight and win, but efforts could be stepped up to contain its activities. Terrorists are impervious to feelings. So, street protests and torrents of cries from protesters do not touch their hearts of darkness in any way. This is why it is important to stop the charade of street wailing and crying; it is fruitless, distracting and pointless. Resources should be pooled together, intelligence should be gathered more vigorously so as to locate the whereabouts of the missing girls and rescue them.
Before this carnival ends…
The carnival of street protests needs to end. As it is, it has become a jamboree or a “political festival” deliberately planned to deride the ruling government, while important issues at stake are left unaddressed.
It also serves as a source of distraction to the government at the centre which ought to concentrate its energy strategising on how to secure the release of the missing girls and contain the Boko Haram menace in the country.
The nation is in a mournful mood and this is not the time for jollity, but for sober reflection. This is the right time for genuine show of empathy and compassion, this is the time for action and not carnivals, otherwise the whole nation will continue to “run Boko and Haram”.