Like everything else that has changed drastically under T-pain’s administration, Independence Day as we know it is changing too. Independence Day 2024 is not going to be just another random public holiday – it’s either going to be a competition of high-flying geles and colourful asoebi or a day full of sweat, steps, and tear gas.
Here’s a list of everything that would likely happen on October 1:
#FearlessInOctober Protest
Might come as a little bit of a surprise if you’re not chronically online but Nigerians have decided to protest against hunger and bad governance for the second time this year, just a few months after the #EndBadGovernance protests ended in violence and questionable arrests.
While the men in Aso Rock are getting ready to celebrate another Independence Day, some Nigerians are planning a “Fearless in October” protest on October 1 which is a subtle way of telling the government that there’s no independence to celebrate under President Tinubu’s leadership. I’m not sure there’s a need to spell it out but the organisers are protesting against the crazy cost of living, insecurity, and a bunch of other issues that have come up since President Tinubu took office.
But the federal government doesn’t seem to be taking the news well. While protesters are throwing subtle jabs, FG is throwing subtle threats by running the narrative that the protests will be hijacked by criminals and turned into riots.
Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, announced that security agencies are keeping a watchful eye on protest organisers—because nothing says “how dare you challenge T-pain’s authority?” like a little monitoring.
Judging by how quickly things got violent during the #EndBadGovernance protest, with at least 21 deaths and 1,000 questionable arrests, I’m not convinced that the Tinubu-led administration will respect the right of Nigerians to protest.
National owambe
Remi Tinubu must be devastated because it doesn’t seem like her plan to solve the country’s problems with a green-and-white national unity fabric is working out. Nigerians are making plans to protest instead of copping their 6-yards to show up and show out for the national owambe. But who knows? The First Lady is a woman of many talents so the national owambe will likely still hold. Imagine scenes where protesters hit the streets dressed in Mummy T-Pain’s fabric. Talk about a fashion statement!
Nigerians in diaspora doing the most as usual
Nobody celebrates Independence Day like Nigerians living abroad. Prepare to see all the cliches – hideous green white green outfits, X posts with captions like “Celebrating the motherland”, “No place like home” (tell anybody that posts this to come back home if it’s sure for them).
Where will you be on Independence Day 2024?
Personally, I’d have loved to be at the national owambe but seeing as the inflation rate today is the highest we’ve had in 28 years, I can’t exactly afford to buy Remi Tinubu’s fabric. Also, seeing as we have a government that would rather blow billions on fancy presidential jets than prevent tragedies like the Maiduguri flood, I’m not sure I’m in the mood for any type of celebration. I’m leaning more towards the protest direction because the cost of living is killing us. Even if I’m not there physically, I might be on posting and retweeting any #EndBadGovernance post I see. So where will you be on Independence Day? If you need any help deciding, take this quiz to find out.
