By: Femi-adeniyi Joshua

Amidst the ongoing plans to stage a protest tagged #EndBadGovernance, an amusement points to the Nigerian class of political gladiators who have decided to condemn the protest. They like the Roman god, Janus, are two faced. Virtually all the politicians advocating against this protest are members of the ruling party, directly or otherwise.

It is baffling that the current establishment is quick to forget that the choice to express dissent was what it was richly invested in, in the time past. Surfing X, formerly Twitter, the dice turns to Mr. Dada Oluwasegun, who, during the passing era of erstwhile President Goodluck Jonathan, was a major instigator of the #OccupyNigeria protest. Mr. Dada made a lot of tweets inciting citizens to protest. He even went as far as hinting at the protests turning violent.

“@Jonathan is out of touch with the people! Protests are a sign of a healthy democracy. We must listen to the youth! #OccupyNigeria” he tweeted, his words acting as a clarion call to all who felt marginalized and ignored. His timeline was ere long filled with passionate declarations about the sanctity of protest, and the need for leaders to be responsive to the demands of the people.

“Protests are the voice of the voiceless. We must never stifle their cries for justice. #EndCorruption,” read another of his impassioned tweets. The retweets and likes flowed in, cementing his reputation as a face of the people’s right to dissent.

Today, tables have turned. The same said “crusader” for social reform is now more concerned about “law and order” than the welfare of citizens whom hardship has been brought upon by the government in power which the erstwhile “socioeconomic reform crusader” clamoured for. Like in soccer, the goalpost is currently transposed but the same player cries foul. More amusing that the hardship in the moment are in no way a difference from the policies it protested against while in the opposition.

The inconsistency of the average Nigerian politician is abysmal. Mr. Dada Oluwasegun is not an outlier and his actions are typical for the average Nigerian politician. They, like Janus, have two faces and they also speak from both sides of their mouth. This leaves to wonder if the interest of some citizens is the motivation for a genuine change or it is simply a tool in the hands of opposition leaders.