The recent #EndSARS protests in Nigeria has been seen as a proof that a united people, can indeed, force a change in our country. It was a struggle from across the country by a people who for years, have had to deal with leadership failure from all levels as is evident in the current state of the nation.
Not until recently, the North has been seen as the weaklink in the struggle for a change due to its tendency to turn legitimate struggles into a religious and regional issue. Northern elites know this, and for years, have been using it to their advantage whilst subjecting the region to poverty and backwardness.
But Nigerians in the North are growing restless and despite still holding unto their religious beliefs, they still feel their elites are not being honest, and are a bunch of talks without anything to show for it despite being in government for many years.
In fact, the people are believed to be so gullible that anyone can easily hoodwink using nothing but religion. But all these are beginning to change.
One of the most prominent voices from the North, Aisha Yesufu, has been very critical of the Buhari government and Northern elites whom she said are the reason the North has become a pathetic region where illiteracy and poverty reigns supreme.
Although, the former Convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, has suffered attacks from fellow northerners, she however, appeared to be emboldened all the more as she hopes to bring about an awakening among her people.
In her recent post on her Facebook page, she said those on high places popping champagne believing they have stiffled the #EndSARS protests, are simply being foolish because something bigger is coming their way.
She said, "The most foolish assumptions the Northern Governors have is thinking they curtailed #EndSars protest. There is an awakening!
The Northern youth will come after them in the most senseless manner just like kidnapping that started in the south is most senseless in the North today."
Bashar Umar Shagari, who appears to be having a rethink in his loyalty to northern leaders who clearly have failed the region, attacks on Aisha who is clearly fighting for northern youths, has explained why their leaders continue to take them for granted.
In a post on facebook, he said, "Last week we are busy crucifying a Hijabite Activist (Aisha Yusuf) and Today, we are busy condemning a dress to kiII celebrity (Rahama Sadau). I can now see why our leaders take us for granted and continue their psychological slavery against us in the north.
"Someone dress good we crucified her for standing for her right against Police Brutality. And Another dress to kiII and we condemned her because she is a celebrity. Most of this Moralists never said a word on the last kiIIing of our people in Zamfara because condemning it my be sins against Buhari Government!
"You said you don't want Aisha Yusuf a Hijabite, now why are you complaining for getting Rahama Sadau?"
Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Abuja, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, has reacted to #EndSARS protests in the country, saying it is the product of many years of government’s stubbornness by refusing to listen to Nigerians who have been crying out for a change that improves their lives.
Kaigama who stated this during a homily at the celebration of the 90th anniversary of Holy Ghost Parish, Makurdi, said the action of the youths was a clear demonstration of what the Catholic Bishop’s Conference (CBC) had been talking about, expressing the hope that their protests would awake the political will in the leaders and in everyone who should do something about it.
He said: “Let us not pretend that there is no problem in the country. Let us not behave like the Ostrich that buries its head in the sand and behave like there is no danger. “There is danger. The brutality we are suffering in the hands of the police is enough and the youths have said it.
“The Catholic conference has been saying it. Stop corruption, stop corruption so that the wealth of the nation can go round. We kept saying that but they didn’t listen. Now, the youth has said it. I hope it will wake us all and I hope that the next political dispensation will be a different one.
“Not of selfish interest but with values. We have been driven by selfish, self-centered materialistic interest, by religious, tribal partisan political sentiments and that is why we can’t grow. We make one step forward and three steps backwards, the youths are determined to change this."