Protest in Nigeria
Chapter 2
Protest movement in Nigeria
In democracy, having a wide spread number of people tell the government that they do not like its practices could herald to protest movements. As thus, it is a very effective way of getting changes made and raising or revisiting issues.
History of protest movement
During the 19th and early 20th century, Nigerians sought and found ways to oppose the foreign rule. As the middle classes and the working classes became more educated, there came with it, the desire to have more say in the way their lives were run. Subsequently, local armed revolts, concentrated in the middle belt region broke out sporadically and intensified during World War I (1914-1918). Workers in mines, railways and various public services often went on strikes and carried out demonstration due to their poor wages and working conditions including the General action in 1945 where 30,000 workers stopped commercial activities for 37 days. More common was passive resistance, avoiding being counted in the census, ridiculing colonists and colonialism etc. A few political groups which were formed to campaign for independence though their success was slight.
World War II (1939-1945), in which many Nigerians fought for or otherwise aided the Britain increased the pace of Nationalism. The growing anticolonial feeling was most strongly articulated by two groups mentioned earlier, the NCNC and the AG; and later in the 1950’s by the Northern People’s Congress led by the hausa-fulani elite.
As the century wore on, a number of different groups emerged, each having their own distinct complain to make. Though some complained peacefully, others used violence, sabotage and threat to try and enforce change.
The year 2012 was one filled with events of historic proportions. First, in response to the unpopular 120% hike in petrol price, the people spontaneously took to the streets across the country in stiff resistance plus couple an 8 day general strike and mass protests that
Protest movement in Nigeria
In democracy, having a wide spread number of people tell the government that they do not like its practices could herald to protest movements. As thus, it is a very effective way of getting changes made and raising or revisiting issues.
History of protest movement
During the 19th and early 20th century, Nigerians sought and found ways to oppose the foreign rule. As the middle classes and the working classes became more educated, there came with it, the desire to have more say in the way their lives were run. Subsequently, local armed revolts, concentrated in the middle belt region broke out sporadically and intensified during World War I (1914-1918). Workers in mines, railways and various public services often went on strikes and carried out demonstration due to their poor wages and working conditions including the General action in 1945 where 30,000 workers stopped commercial activities for 37 days. More common was passive resistance, avoiding being counted in the census, ridiculing colonists and colonialism etc. A few political groups which were formed to campaign for independence though their success was slight.
World War II (1939-1945), in which many Nigerians fought for or otherwise aided the Britain increased the pace of Nationalism. The growing anticolonial feeling was most strongly articulated by two groups mentioned earlier, the NCNC and the AG; and later in the 1950’s by the Northern People’s Congress led by the hausa-fulani elite.
As the century wore on, a number of different groups emerged, each having their own distinct complain to make. Though some complained peacefully, others used violence, sabotage and threat to try and enforce change.
The year 2012 was one filled with events of historic proportions. First, in response to the unpopular 120% hike in petrol price, the people spontaneously took to the streets across the country in stiff resistance plus couple an 8 day general strike and mass protests that