APC Leaders Ogbonnaya Onu (right) Muhammadu Buhari APC National Chairman John Oyegun, Nat Sec, Mai Mala Buni and Hon Farouk Adamu during the Salvation Rally by the party in Abuja. Photo credit: Vanguard

By Francis Oronsaye

For some days now, the news of Innocent Ujah Idibia AKA Tuface/Tubaba’s planned protest has filled the air. Good. Protests/demonstrations are part of any civilised society, so long as it does not result in violence.

However, what I have a big problem with is the attempt to demonise the young man. I saw two posts. One said Tuface is bitter because he no longer gets the free money he got from “corrupt PDP members” since Baba is not a groove-oriented man, while another said he is being sponsored by Atiku/Akpabio to “paint Buhari bad” so Atiku/Akpabio can have a smooth ride to the presidency in 2019 (as if this administration needs anyone to paint them bad again).

I stand to be corrected, but I cannot remember Tuface campaigning for any of the candidates in the last election. I only remember him for the “vote, not fight” campaign. He could have made a lot of money from endorsing any candidate. He remains one of the most iconic musicians in Nigeria today.

I stand to be corrected, but I do not think there has been any group that had organised protests/demonstration as much as the APC and its component parties.

Francis Oronsaye

The Fuel Subsidy protests in January, 2012 was mainly orchestrated by the APC-the major partner in what has become the APC and there were many artistes like Bankole Wellington AKA Banky W, KWAM 1, Femi Kuti etc who partook in the event, offering free music and comedy to protesters.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/02/subsidy-matter-how-did-artists-occupy-nigeria/

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/01/one-year-after-fuel-subsidy-protests-who-is-occupying-nigeria-now/

GEJ had a few dark spots in his democratic credentials: the actions of CP Mbu in /Rivers State, the invasion of the meeting involving the five defecting PDP governors at Asokoro and a few others, but I still think he is the president who had the highest number of protests in his regime. Eagle Square and Unity Fountain were always busy with protesters. Even #BBOG# that I vividly saw Audu Ogbeh in one of the APC rallies commending the APC members for establishing, has become a “terrorist organisation”.

Even President Buhari, as a member of the opposition, once led a protest.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/buhari-amaechi-others-protest-rally-fg/

One of the most despicable and annoying things about the supporters of this administration is how they seek to demonise anyone who is not seeing Buhari as a messiah. They are now even asking why Tuface did not protest under Goodluck-as if they now help him decide when and how to protest. Ironically, some of them protested against the Fuel Subsidy removal in 2012 and praised it as the best thing to have happened in 2016 ( hypocrites).

One of the most despicable and annoying things about the supporters of this administration is how they seek to demonise anyone who is not seeing Buhari as a messiah. They are now even asking why Tuface did not protest under Goodluck-as if they now help him decide when and how to protest. Ironically, some of them protested against the Fuel Subsidy removal in 2012 and praised it as the best thing to have happened in 2016 ( hypocrites).

In any case, I do not even think anybody needs a Tuface-led protest to know things are in a horrible state. When you finish all your pontificating, na the same market we go go buy foodstuff. Thank God, they do not sell cheaper to supporters of this government. Same ni wa (we are the same)…