Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Bokkos, Prof. John Wade, has said the contemporary scenario in Bangladesh is an awakening call on Nigeria leaders to brace up to the demands of the citizens.
He warned of the dangers of replicating the Bangladesh scenario in Nigeria.
Protesting citizens in Bangladesh had rioted for many days forcing the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wazed, to resign and flee to neighbouring India
Wade, who served as director of research and documentation during the immediate past Simon Lalong administration, told our correspondent in Jos that there was evidence that foreign interests hijacked the peaceful protest in the country, especially in Plateau state.
He said that there were signals that imported foreign nationals, especially from Mali and Niger had taken the stage, thereby truncating the genuine agitation by Nigerians.
Wade said the calls for military intervention by some of the protesters portend a dangerous trend and implored President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address the demands of the protests.
He said: “Contemporary development in Bangladesh should be a present and clear danger signal. Strategic communication and proactiveness towards antidotes to a meddlesome “Responsibility to Protect, R2P” mantra are imperative.
“In many posted videos, you will notice the protesters chanting “Sojoji muke so.. Sojoji muke so” (Meaning, “We want soldiers’ ” intervention). The body language of the soldiers seem at a loss and in complete complexity and dilemma as to whether they should curtail and enforce the curfew declared by the Plateau State Government or stand aloof and ensure safety of the protesters who are hailing them for their professionalism in handling the protests and for them to take over power at the centre,” Wade said.
“It should be noted that such calls have the potential of inciting the military to take over power. They will begin to feel the reassurances of the citizens by asking them to return to power after asking them to leave about 25 years ago. A familiar yet unfamiliar “circumsituation”
“The earlier the President heeds to these calls for these protesters, the better. The President was part of the Save Nigeria Group protest in 2012 that decimated the international image of former President Goodluck Jonathan, and therefore, understands what this protest can do to the corporate image of his government at the international stage.
“A call for international intervention or a call to military takeover with crisis from neighbouring military juntas bordering Nigeria is a big task the President’s handlers need to discuss quickly and timely
“There are also signals of mass importation of hired, noisy protesters into the far north from the Niger/Mali axis, seeing even the last minute developments in peaceful towns of Jos, Kaduna (compelling 24 hrs curfew)… people who have no stake but to add to the seemingly high population of noisy and destructive lots of looters, leaving an impression of system collapse.”
