OCCUPY NIGERIA: HISTORY IN THE MAKING

On the 2^nd of January 2011 the Federal Government of Nigeria lifted the subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which rocketed fuel prices nationwide high ward to as high as N200 per litre in some locations. This is however no longer news but the phenomenon that encapsulated the withdrawal of the subsidy. History was in the making, Nigeria the once regarded most ‘Happiest Nation on Earth’ was turning the tables. ‘Enough is enough’ was what was demonstrated by thousands of patriotic Nigerians propelling out in numbers to Occupy the nation until their rights were ensured.
As I also adorned my Occupy garments, carried my placards and my marching boots to Occupy Nigeria in my own locality, it was history in the making. I could feel the waves of time passing by as I signed the Protest register at the Murtala Muhammad Square in Kaduna amidst profound security presence. Yes, I was part of history and when the liberation is over in years to come I can have the guts to tell my offspring with full sense of humility that I played a part in saving their future, I was there when we revolted against oppression, revolted against cluelessness and most of all revolted for our voices to be heard in the building of this nation.
Historically, the Occupy movement is an international protest movement which is primarily directed against economic and social inequality. The first Occupy protest to receive wide coverage was Occupy Wall Street in New York City's Zuccotti Park, which began on September 17, 2011. By October 9, Occupy protests had taken place or were ongoing in over 95 cities across 82 countries, and over 600 communities in the United States and were inspired by the occupy protests of the Arab Spring. As of December 20 the Meetup page "Occupy Together" listed 2,751 Occupy communities worldwide. So as the year turned, we Nigerians have proudly inscribed our golden names and etched them into history, we occupied Nigeria also.
The Occupy Protests for Nigerians is more than a quest for economic rights; it is a quest for justice, a fight about the ruling class’ war on Nigerians. They cannot claim our country to be broke when President Goodluck Jonathan continues to feed fat on N3 million worth of food everyday. They cannot claim to be broke when the first lady just spent N5 billion furnishing an office and they cannot claim to be broke when the whole budget is about their salaries and allowances.
This is a fight for all of us: students, bike-men, taxi drivers, traders, teachers, lecturers, parents, barbers, mechanics, vendors, civil servants and any other Nigerian from every nook and cranny. The movement, which has been described as a "democratic awakening" by Cornel West, is difficult to distill to a few demands, so lets give the government a ride for their ‘money’. We must come out, we must shout, we must let our voices be heard, WE MUST OCCUPY NIGERIA.

ALUTA CONTINUA, VICTORIA ACERTA