As political scientists would say, the outbreak of the first coup d’etat in Nigeria in January 1966 had intrinsic correlation to similar occurrence in other African countries. Therefore popular opinion, with cogent reference to popular culture which is experiencing fast adaptation as dictated by the internet and co, would have it easy tracing the spark of the current anti-brutality protest in Nigeria to the reaction of extrajudicial murder of African-American, Mr. George Floyd by the American police; which took place during the first half of the current year. In the same vein, that the protest is also against police brutality would lend the argument a more standing pillar. Just like the Coup d’etat and its relativity to similar occurence, which took place in a relatively larger world in the 60s than today, adrift of internet yet dictated by the continental, racial and more importantly, geographical proximity. For what that analogy is worth, Wild-Fire dimension to understanding political events can’t be more apt.
Police brutality, being the subject of this article, is not a new a phenomenon across the Nigerian federation. And against the fear of unfounded projections, I agree that Human right lawyers and Human Rights violation researchers, and more importantly the victims of the brutality themselves, the Nigerian people, are, in my opinion, at more liberty to speak with higher inferential authority. And its that agreement that compells me to recall a tutorial research that I had carried out against a conclusion of high-institution test in CAS Kano, on the topic of Human Rights violation in Nigeria, in November 2015. Which oddly enough back then, yet, evenly understandable today, I, during the literature review, personally discovered that police brutality sits at the top among the biggest means of Human Rights violation in Nigeria. Closely followed by the treatment inside the Nigerian correctional facilities. And with respect to that, reports of absurd cases of police brutality from both South and Northern Nigeria equally make the late escalation of the physical protest against it as surprising as the number of years Nigerians had to endure its wrath before taking action. But as it has been proved in the opening paragraph, socio-politically, most of the movements of such escalates usually at the green light of earlier occurrence of similar magnitude. Which I believe the global reaction towards George Floyd’s murder delivered on a silver platter.
On one hand, while the inhumane culture of the police has finally rattled Nigerian people into a more radical consciousness of their democratic rights. The unfortunate phenomenon has also exposed the dilemma facing the inclusiveness of democratic practices across the Nigerian federation. Police brutality, being a phenomenon more endemic in the South for a reason yet to be objectively verified, has naturally attracted more consciousness and revolting spirit from the inhabitants of Southern Nigeria. And therefore from the logic of popular opinion, its only right for Southerners to physically be the majority during the campaign, and for Southern states to be more involved. With their Northern counterparts joining them in a gesture of national solidarity against a commom threat which if care isn’t taken would consume everyone, assuming it hasn’t been the case already. Which is a logic that’s not only far fetched but incorrect. But that’s not the actual ghost in the machine.
The way I see it, the relative difference between the police brutality in the South and the North isn’t as massive or enough to serve as an excuse for a certain aspect of Northeners to showcase such a comparatively nonchalant attitude towards the anti-police-brutality campaign. More unfortunately, going as far as trying to counter it online, or, in the opinion of its wiser apologists tactically merge it with another hashtag hasn’t in anyway showed any brightness towards our collective pursuit of democratic goals or coexistence altogether. It was ill-timed, poorly-reacted and regionalism-inspired showcase of divisiveness. It rather shows the massive gap in determination, boldness, initiative-taking, democratic consciousness, organisational know-how and strategic employment of the media and popular culture between the inhabitants of the two differing regions. With Northerners falling behind their southern counterparts from the lessons learnt when they initiated an “online” campaign against banditry, kidnapping and terrorism. Which I think hasn’t yielded the desired outcome. And rightly so, if we’ve any respect for the effort currency.
Meanwhile, while the reason behind the failure to eradicate terrorism, kidnapping and banditry remains an illusion. Police brutality is different. Which any common man can relate to the absurd incompetency and power excesses inside the police, that can be checkmated through campaigns as the one currently . The southerners have understood and therefore stood up against it. While the northerners are still unsure whether its even a course worthy of prioritisng. Which is a worrying nonchalance that runs deep into the northern extreme and nostalgic obsession towards the maintenance of the already-disrupted status quo, refusal to let go of the outdated feudal beliefs and mentality, the don’t-care-for-your-own to let the considerable world care for him attitude (the world is no longer considerable).
Those are among others the factors holding northerners back from enjoying their democratic rights. And the earlier they agree that the days of monarchy are over, therefore embrace the fact that democratic leaders do not represent by the ordinance of God rather of the people, the better. Otherwise oppression will keep being tolerated in the name of respect for elders, incompetency in the name of contentment and corruption in the name of obedience towards faith. While courage and valor will keep being judged and cowardice upheld.
On one side, that an aspect of the northerners wouldn’t do it would’ve been fine. After all, nobody can force any society which prefer the prevalence of injustice into pursuing justice. But the fact that the ego of I won’t-do-it-and-I-still-expect-it-to-be-done-on-my-behalf always strike northerners whenever the southerners stand at forefront to do something courageous that’ll get their own concerns solved (assuming police brutality is), is at best laughable entitlement, and at worst, misunderstanding of how popular endeavors work. That the northerners expect equal representation on Northern problems when they’re partially involved and regionally filtering out Southerners in their own, yet still have the audacity to lament is what I couldn’t understand. Which on another side would even bring further lack of popularity to the anti banditry, kidnapping and terrorism campaigns among southerners. Declaring any full-blowing prospects of the campaign dead on arrival.
Another important angle that always escape the attention of northernfolk revolves around how unable they’re at spotting the plague regional terming is incurring upon the making of their movements. To be candid, when a movement says “#NorthernLivesMatter”, its indirectly filtering out any potential southerner wishing to empathize, support or join, let alone a foreigner. The regional terming would hinder others from feeling among, ridding off the needed mindfulness and the sense of togetherness. The same goes to “#EndNorthernBanditry”, “#EndNorthernKidnapping”, among others. Southerners are very well-versed on the impact of little details like that. Their careful actions are evident. And that’s why when the anti-brutality campaign was initiated, even if we assume its a regional problem as many northernfolk do rather than national, it bears no regional terming. Which helps give the phenomenon an international outlook that rattles the voice of global figures as forced by their imagery and moral burden. And any northerner helping #Endsars trend can do minimum as to being honest to the fact that he feels among, feeling that he or she is upholding the interest of his country rather than any region.
Certainly when northerners chose to term national problems and their outlook regional, for whatsoever reason, they shouldn’t blame their counterparts when they pretend nothing is happening, or when the global figures retain their ignorance on the matter. Because the message, even in its branding has rejected their contribution. After all, nobody is under any obligation to be impressed by something less impressive, less inspiring, less organized, so small its regionalistic, lacking in both physical and intrinsic spirit. But that’s if the northeners would be honest as to tell themselves the truth.
As mentioned in the fifth paragraph, unprovoked conservativism, outdated feudal beliefs and practices breed dangerous dilemmas to Northern democracy. While the passionate, unnecessary regional difference being stamped upon whichever northern activity isn’t helping matters. And national problems like Police brutality (its inarguable that its), when attempt to be solved in the atmosphere of divisiveness, will only become worse on their own. And so its better if they’re pursued collectively. That being said, I urge everyone to absorb the danger and put aside the difference. And together we will rescue our democracy.
In the end, persistence upon anti-brutality campaign even after the presidential declaration is worthy of applause. Many other declarations had been done with no impact on sight. Something greater has to be done. And its now or never. While other problems on banditry, kidnapping and terrorism should be confronted later when the smoke ia gone. The federal government shall feel the heat. And then, even southerners would have to consider, after everything many northerners have done during the anti-brutality campaign. And Northerners shall blame themselves for the fact that their campaign will have to wait. Poor timing among others, has seen to it. Also because police brutality is a problem within the controllable jurisdictions. While terrorism, banditry and kidnapping are not. Even where all is limited, at least now everyone had learnt how campaigns are done.
Iliasu writes from Kano
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Sky Daily
