PUNCH
On August 1, 2024, angry, frustrated Nigerians, both young and old, swarmed the streets to protest worsening economic conditions, government corruption, inept leadership, and other issues that have left many reeling.
With organisers of the street demonstration scheduling 10 days of protests and presenting 19 demands, the peaceful protest, tagged #EndBadGovernance, gained traction over time and turned violent in northern states that include Yobe, Kano, Abuja, Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Niger, and Jigawa.
However, something intrinsic was noticeably missing in this nationwide protest that shook the nation—the faces of prominent Nigerian activists, who championed and participated in the 2020 #EndSARS protest during the administration of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.
Precisely in October 2020, thousands of young Nigerians took to the streets in about 30 states to protest against police brutality after the video of a man being allegedly killed by the notorious Special Anti-Robbery Squad, known as SARS, went viral.
#endbadgovernanceinnigeria Day 2: Moment Little Boy Was Spotted At Ojota Protest Ground Today
SARS was a unit of the police force allegedly responsible for many atrocities, including harassment and killings, among others.
The video sparked what would later be known as the #EndSARS movement and the ensuing protest gained global support to became the biggest movement for change championed by young people in the country’s history.
The demonstration lasted for two weeks, prompting the Federal Government to disband SARS and set up judicial panels of inquiry to investigate the widespread allegations of abuse by officers.
Four years later, many anticipated the active involvement of prominent Nigerians in the #EndBadGovernance protest, and continue to wonder why the silence from most of them.
Prominent #EndSARS proponents:
Aisha Yesufu
A political activist and leading figure in the 2020 #EndSARS protest in Abuja, Aisha Yesufu was among those tear-gassed but remained defiant.
A picture of the co-founder, ‘Bring Back Our Girls Movement’, standing resolute with one hand raised, later became one of the symbols of the #EndSARS movement.
Before the #EndBadGovernance protest, Aisha had been consistently criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Though physically absent in this latest protest, she made comments in support of it on her X handle.
One of her comments on the platform reads, “Hunger is a unifier! Nobody is protesting on behalf of anybody. The people have taken it personally and are ready to claim their power. Tinubu is killing the citizens he threw into suffering and hunger for coming out to cry about the suffering and hunger. The Nigerian police are the progenitors of violence at protests. They are either directly inflicting it or supervising others to inflict it.”
Rinu Oduala
This outspoken Nigerian was among thousands of youths who protested police brutality in 2020 but did not join in the 2024 demonstration.
The media strategist set up a camp outside the Lagos governor’s office on October 7, calling for SARS to be disbanded.
Using social media as a tool, she rallied support and organised blankets for people who kept vigil outside the Lagos State Government office for 72 hours before a police crackdown.
Her #EndSARS activism was so profound that her Twitter account, with over 172,000 followers, got the blue verified badge.
Oduala later became part of a judicial panel set up in Lagos to investigate cases of police abuse.
Runtown
Nigerian singer, songwriter, and producer, Douglas Jack Agu, popularly known as Runtown, did not join in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
In 2020, he actively participated in the #EndSARS demonstration in Lagos and showed his support for the movement.
Runtown also mobilised Nigerians via his social media platforms for the protest.
However, he was silent on the #EndBadGovernance protest. His social media handles were also devoid of comments relating to it.
Falz
Lawyer, rapper, and activist, Folarin Falana, known as Falz, was also missing among the #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The singer was actively involved in previous protests, including the 2020 #EndSARS protest. He stood with other #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, Ikeja, and Surulere.
In an Instagram live chat before the #EndSARS protest started, Falz had said, “No backing down. We move. The police are already there, waiting for us, but we are not here to cause trouble. It is a peaceful protest. Coming through.
“Our message is clear. Today was very peaceful & the authorities know what to do in order to keep the peace.”
Despite his name being etched in Nigeria’s history due to activism, the son of human rights lawyer, Femi Falana did not participate in this recent protest and only posted comments on his X account on August 2.
He wrote, “Genuinely, I don’t know why it’s so difficult to be humane. They say to make you leave am, you no gree. Say na your birthright. You can’t now turn a deaf ear.
“You tried to make it look like the protests were ‘politically motivated’. Shebi una don see now? How long do you think you can keep on pushing the people back before it blows up in your face?”
DJ Switch
Nigerian disc jockey, Obianuju Catherine Udeh, better known as DJ Switch, supported the #EndBadGovernance protest but did not participate.
A leading figure in the #EndSARS movement, who coordinated the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, described the #EndBadGovernance protest as an opportunity to save Nigeria.
She also wrote on her X handle, “The only thing that can stop HUNGER is FOOD! Not guns, teargas, or threats….”
Burna Boy
Afro-fusion star Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, known as Burna Boy, did not directly participate in the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Like others, he supported the movement through social media posts and statements.
Recall that the singer was initially reluctant to identify with the #EndSARS protest in 2020 but later supported it following widespread condemnation by fans.
