Politics
When a Government Resorts to Violence, Expect a Reckoning: A Call to Nigeria’s Youth
When a Government Resorts to Violence, Expect a Reckoning: A Call to Nigeria’s Youth.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | SaharaWeeklyNG.com
Brutal and cowardly. That’s how democracy dies. Choose your words deliberately (enough is enough) when a government resorts to violence against peaceful citizens. This is not mere rhetoric. In Edo North, activist Comrade Okhai Okhani was nearly executed (not for armed rebellion, not for terrorism) but simply for demanding transparency and good governance. Brutalized by vigilantes acting as political foot soldiers, he was dragged into a Toyota Hilux, beaten with rifle butts and matchets, left for dead and then imprisoned. Such cruelty is the brutal calculus of fear, inflicted by those who believe violence is the only language power respects.
Let us not sugarcoat it: OPPRESSIVE STATES THINK THEY CAN SILENCE DEMANDS THROUGH TERROR. How often have we viewed complaints as harmless until they turn into tragedy? Citizens often shrug until it happens or until someone else pays the price. When that horrifying moment arrives, too many speak of “SHOCK,” “DISBELIEF,” or “SURPRISE.” But the handwriting was always there, scrawled in IMPUNITY and ARROGANCE.
Here is the truth: when a government strikes, CITIZENS have every moral and political right to RESPOND, and the young generation (today’s generation) is doing just that.
Youth Rising: From #EndSARS to Civic Empowerment. A generation that grew up hearing about coups and dictatorship is now shouting Soro Soke ~“Speak Up” Their awakening came in 2020 with #EndSARS. The protests were peaceful, but the response was not. They were met with violence on Lekki Toll Gate, live-streamed by DJ Switch, who showed the world soldiers firing on unarmed protesters. That night became a symbol: governments can no longer pretend ignorance when citizens document atrocities in real time.
Young Nigerians, long dismissed as apathetic, rose and pushed for accountability. Their mobilization online translated into real-world action. The 2023 elections saw unprecedented youth turnout. The “four people tweeting in a room” turned into an unstoppable wave. A once-dismissed digital protest force helped propel change: “when politicians don’t deliver … we call them out,” said campaigners and the establishment had to pay attention Wired.
This is NOT just PROTEST. It is POLITICAL MATURITY. It is the RECLAIMING of POWER.
Who Is the Future? Youth Already Are Nigeria Today.
“Ours is not tomorrow’s generation,” declared activist Chude Jideonwo. “We do not have the luxury of apathy.” Propelled by ideals” (RADICALISM, IMPATIENCE for CHANGE, AMBITION, URGENCY) today’s youth live on a different timeline. Every election DELAYED, every promise DEFERRED, is a THREAT to their FUTURE. Their impatience is senseless only if change were easy; but it is not. Power is protected by PATRONAGE, AGE and FEAR. These young people are not waiting politely; they’re demanding the nation they have already started building. Slim-Shaddy’s Spot African Arguments.
Nelson Mandela put it succinctly: “It always seems impossible until it is done.” That is the spirit that’s breathing life into Nigeria’s protest movements and civic innovations and it has a home in Nigeria among youth who are refusing to accept the status quo.
Consider YIAGA Africa’s “NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN” campaign. They forced a constitutional amendment lowering age limits for political office, proving that young voices can disrupt entrenched systems~if they organize.
What Should Citizens Do When the State Turns to Violence? Speak Out Loudly: Silence is consent. When the state crosses the line, shame it. Mobilize through hashtags, town halls, vigils. Let the global spotlight do its part.
Document Brutality: In Okhai Okhani’s case, his attackers captured the violence on camera. That footage is not just evidence, it is TRUTH. Let every violation be seen.
Demand Accountability: Citizens must stop accepting “INVESTIGATIONS.” Justice must be swift, visible and unwavering. Failure to prosecute sends the message that power is above the law.
Sustain Civic Energy: Protests are not one-off events. It is the sustained engagement afterward (VOTER EDUCATION, STRUCTURE-BUILDING, ADVOCACY) that ensures changes stick.
Enter Politics: The youth must build institutions, parties and campaigns. The ballot box is as potent as the protest. Young people can no longer wait at the margins.
Let us recall two sharp quotes:
MKO Abiola: “No one can give you power. It is yours. Take it!” This was not a polite suggestion, it was a revolutionary drumbeat during the 1993 struggle.
Nnamdi Azikiwe: “A nation that neglects its youth neglects its future.” Every act of state violence against a young voice is self-harm.
Furthermore: Violence Does not Silence, It Sparks. The assault on Okhai Okhani was meant to silence a voice. Instead, it should spark an uprising of CIVIC ENERGY, of RIGHTEOUS ANGER and of UNYIELDING RESOLVE.
When power is abused, citizens must respond and especially the youth. You are not tomorrow; YOU ARE TODAY’S HOPE. You are demanding better. From ACCOUNTABILITY in GOVERNANCE to DIGNITY in TREATMENT. So fight with your VOICE, your VOTES, your STRUCTURES and your STORIES.
This is because SILENCE after VIOLENCE is COMPLICITY and APATHY in the face of IMPUNITY is a LUXURY we can no longer afford.
George Omagbemi Sylvester
Published on SaharaWeeklyNG.com
August 2025
Governor Bago Inaugurates APC Digital Media Sub-Committee Ahead of National Convention.
Governor Umaru Bago has inaugurated the Digital Media Sub-Committee for the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), scheduled to hold on March 27 and 28, 2026 in Abuja.
Chairing the sub-committee, Governor Bago tasked members with the responsibility of effectively communicating the party’s manifesto to the public.
He emphasized the need to leverage social media platforms to highlight the achievements and ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that communication gaps have posed challenges that must now be decisively addressed.
The Co-Chair of the sub-committee, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, echoed the Governor’s position, urging members to project the activities of both the party and the government to a broader audience.
He called for a deliberate and coordinated effort to showcase the party’s achievements and policy direction, stressing the importance of shaping a compelling and consistent narrative across all digital platforms.
Delivering a presentation to the committee, Otega Ogra, SSA to the President on New Media, who serves as Secretary of the sub-committee, outlined strategic focus areas to guide the team’s operations.
His presentation highlighted communication priorities and actionable steps to achieve the committee’s mandate and strengthen the party’s digital engagement.
VP Shettima Set to Lead Delegation to Zamfara as Governor Dauda Lawal Formally Joins APC
The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has finalized plans to receive Vice President Kashim Shettima for the formal defection and reception of Governor Dauda Lawal into the ruling party, scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
State APC Chairman, Tukur Danfulani Maikatako, disclosed this during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Gusau, the state capital. He noted that the Vice President would be joined by the party’s national leadership to mark what he described as a landmark political realignment in the state.
Maikatako expressed the party’s excitement over Governor Lawal’s return, recalling that Zamfara had historically been an APC stronghold and that the Governor was previously a bona fide member of the party before his earlier exit.
“We all know that Zamfara has long been one of the APC’s stronghold states, where the defected Governor was once a bona fide member. Now that he has decided to return home, having been satisfied that the APC remains his second choice after the one he left for obvious reasons,” Maikatako stated.
The Chairman called on all party faithful across the 147 wards in the state’s 14 local government areas to turn out en masse to honour the Vice President’s visit. He emphasized that the event was strategically positioned to bolster the party’s popularity and strengthen its structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a strong appeal for unity, Maikatako urged members to set aside all factional tendencies, stressing that the APC remained one political family with shared goals, particularly the ambition to make Zamfara and Nigeria great again.
Echoing similar sentiments, a former state APC Chairman, Lawal M. Liman, appealed to members to cascade the message to their wards and local government areas. He reinforced the need for cohesion, noting that the party’s collective strength would be critical to achieving success in future elections.
All eyes are now on Gusau as the ruling party prepares for a high-profile political gathering expected to further consolidate its influence in Zamfara State.
Governor Dauda Lawal Named Part of Presidential Delegation for Historic UK State Visit
Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has been named as a member of the presidential entourage that will accompany President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on a historic two-day State Visit to the United Kingdom.
According to a statement from the Zamfara State Government House on Monday, the Governor will depart Abuja for the UK on Tuesday for the visit, which is scheduled to take place on March 18 and 19 at the invitation of the British Royal Family.
During the visit, King Charles III will host President Tinubu, the First Lady, and the Nigerian delegation at Windsor Castle, where they will view a special exhibition of Royal Collection items related to Nigeria. The Royal Family will also host a State Banquet in honour of the Nigerian guests on the evening of Wednesday, March 18.
The presidency has outlined that the purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and the United Kingdom. President Tinubu is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, which are expected to lead to expanded bilateral discussions and the signing of Memorandums of Understanding covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.
The President will also serve as the guest of honour at the Nigerian Modernism exhibition, which showcases contemporary art and culture, and will participate in a reception with Nigerian and British business leaders as well as members of the diaspora community.
The Zamfara State Government expressed confidence that Governor Lawal’s participation in the high-level delegation will provide valuable networking opportunities, opening significant prospects for investment and economic benefits for Zamfara State. The visit will also see Governor Lawal display his repertoire of knowledge on global policy and corporate governance and also pitch the Mineral and Farming rich state to potential investors during the bilateral meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer.
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