Why the North is Angry and Joined #EndBadGovernance Protests

The active participation of northern states in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests has surprised many, given the region’s historical reluctance to engage in anti-government demonstrations. This shift is particularly striking when compared to the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which were primarily centered in the southern states under President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner. Now, under President Bola Tinubu, a southerner, northern states are at the forefront of these protests, raising questions about the nation’s deepening divisions.

Abdulaziz Sulaiman, spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), attributes the North’s involvement to widespread hunger, marginalization, and endemic poverty. He explains that the current protests, unlike those of 2020, are driven by a desperate need to address the severe food crisis and insecurity that have plagued the region. Northern Nigeria, known for its high levels of poverty and pervasive insecurity, has been particularly hard hit, with smallholder farmers and communities struggling to access nutritious food due to insurgent and bandit activities.

The pervasive sense of neglect and marginalization by successive governments has fueled a deep-seated anger among northern youths, who view the ongoing food crisis as another manifestation of the government’s failure to prioritize their needs. Sulaiman emphasizes that the northern youths’ participation in the protests is not merely a reaction to the current administration but a broader assertion of their rights to security and a decent standard of living.

The implications of this reawakening in the North are significant. The protests have exposed the failures of the northern elite and highlighted the urgent need for action to address food insecurity, poverty, and inequality. They have also brought to light a new spirit of unity and solidarity among different regions in Nigeria, as people across the country come together to demand change.

Contrary to the perception that the North remained silent during Buhari’s tenure, Sulaiman notes that there were voices of dissent and criticism from within the region, including protests by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and calls for Buhari’s resignation by prominent northern figures. The current protests, he argues, are not solely a reaction to having a non-northerner as president but rather a response to systemic failures that affect all Nigerians, regardless of region or ethnicity.

The convergence of interests in the current protests, particularly around the issue of hunger, underscores the collective desire for change and accountability that transcends regional boundaries. This unity of purpose is a powerful reminder that the challenges facing Nigeria require a united effort, and that the protests are driven by broader concerns that cut across geographical divides.

Why the North is Angry and Joined #EndBadGovernance Protests

The active participation of northern states in the recent #EndBadGovernance protests has surprised many, given the region’s historical reluctance to engage in anti-government demonstrations. This shift is particularly striking when compared to the 2020 #EndSARS protests, which were primarily centered in the southern states under President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner. Now, under President Bola Tinubu, a southerner, northern states are at the forefront of these protests, raising questions about the nation’s deepening divisions.

Abdulaziz Sulaiman, spokesman for the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), attributes the North’s involvement to widespread hunger, marginalization, and endemic poverty. He explains that the current protests, unlike those of 2020, are driven by a desperate need to address the severe food crisis and insecurity that have plagued the region. Northern Nigeria, known for its high levels of poverty and pervasive insecurity, has been particularly hard hit, with smallholder farmers and communities struggling to access nutritious food due to insurgent and bandit activities.

The pervasive sense of neglect and marginalization by successive governments has fueled a deep-seated anger among northern youths, who view the ongoing food crisis as another manifestation of the government’s failure to prioritize their needs. Sulaiman emphasizes that the northern youths’ participation in the protests is not merely a reaction to the current administration but a broader assertion of their rights to security and a decent standard of living.

The implications of this reawakening in the North are significant. The protests have exposed the failures of the northern elite and highlighted the urgent need for action to address food insecurity, poverty, and inequality. They have also brought to light a new spirit of unity and solidarity among different regions in Nigeria, as people across the country come together to demand change.

Contrary to the perception that the North remained silent during Buhari’s tenure, Sulaiman notes that there were voices of dissent and criticism from within the region, including protests by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and calls for Buhari’s resignation by prominent northern figures. The current protests, he argues, are not solely a reaction to having a non-northerner as president but rather a response to systemic failures that affect all Nigerians, regardless of region or ethnicity.

The convergence of interests in the current protests, particularly around the issue of hunger, underscores the collective desire for change and accountability that transcends regional boundaries. This unity of purpose is a powerful reminder that the challenges facing Nigeria require a united effort, and that the protests are driven by broader concerns that cut across geographical divides.