Over 150 Nigerian activists and their supporters stormed the Nigerian Consulate in New York yesterday to protest the removal of the oil subsidy by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Over 150 Nigerian activists and their supporters stormed the Nigerian Consulate in New York yesterday to protest the removal of the oil subsidy by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan.
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In a rally tagged Occupy-Nigeria, New York, activists carrying placards and singing protest songs decrying government withdrawal of the fuel subsidy swamped the walkway in front of the Nigeria House. The group of old and young Nigerians condemned the insensitivity of the government to the plight of the masses.
Speakers at the event included Sun Newspaper columnist, Okey Ndibe; Guardian newspaper columnist, Sonala Olumhense; the publisher of Saharareporters, Omoyele Sowore, the Bureau Chief of the Guardian newspaper, Laolu Akande; former president of the OAU Students’ Union, Adeleke Olanrewaju, Jubilee activist, Affiong Affiong and the publisher of African Abroad newspaper, Alex Kabba. They were agreed that the situation in Nigeria is a watershed in the history of the country, and that Nigerians must seize the opportunity to ensure that the evils which characterize society and politics in Nigeria are exorcised once and for all.
The event was organized by the Nigerian Democratic Liberty Forum (NDLF), headed by Dr. Adegboyega Dada and Bokola Oreofe. The NDLF, which had called the subsidy removal “ill-advised and inhuman,” demanded that the Nigerian government revert to the old price of fuel and investigate the practices of petroleum products importers and distributors, as well as the government bureaucracy which supports their nefarious activities.
While the issue of the fuel subsidy removal was the natural starting point of the protest, other grievances concerning the socio-economic conditions in Nigeria were quickly brought forward, including the astounding N1billion allocated in the 2012 budget for the food needs of the Nigeria presidency. Protesters were united that such a provision alone was an indication of the depth of the rot in Nigerian politics and ethics.
“The U.S. government pays President Obama $400,000 a year and out of that, Obama pays for his own food,” commented columnist Okey Ndibe before the crowd.
“This is our opportunity to reclaim our country,” he said.
In his speech, Mr. Akande urged the protesters to be steadfast and not be deceived by the misinformation coming out of the government’s PR machine. “We have to make the point that Jonathan owes Nigerians, not the IMF.”
Pan-Africanist and veteran activist, Affiong Affiong , emphasized that the fuel subsidy removal could not be the only issue at hand, but Nigerians must fight to avoid ethnic sentiments.
“The blame of what is happening in Nigeria today is ours, not that of our leaders…it is you and I that accept the lies of religion and tribalism,” Affiong asserted. “Show me your people and I will show you your leaders.”
It was a chilly day as Nigerians assembled bravely to demonstrate solidarity with the Occupy Nigeria movement. Also at the rally were a few people from Occupy Wall Street (OWS), including Jose Martin, an organizer who also spoke to Nigerians and expressed the support of OWS for Occupy Nigeria.
“You have inspired us to do what we do and that is why Occupy Wall Street will be joining Occupy Nigeria,” said Jose Martin, speaking about the intentions of OWS to join the Nigerian protest this afternoon. OWS will convene in New York City’s Times Square to mark the 10th anniversary of the opening of Guatanamo Bay, and then march to Nigeria House.
The climax of yesterday’s rally came when a fictional President Goodluck Jonathan made an appearance. The fictional Jonathan, from the popular SaharaTV Dr. Damages Show, entertained the audience by offering them cassava bread. He answered questions from the crowd but was also pelted with eggs by people who disagreed with his poor answers to questions asked of him.
Many speakers urged the rally to never let up until the Nigerian people regain control of their political space.
“For those who know but do not care and those who care but do not know, Nigeria is a failed Nation that works for the very people who failed it,” said Rudolf Okonkwo.
“Our job,” he stressed, “is to stop Nigeria from working for those who failed it.’
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