An Appraisal of Effectiveness of Public Agitation on Government Decision (A study of End

SARS protest)

Chapter one

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Background to the study

Agitations, protests and confrontations of any kind have always been part and parcel of the
Nigerian system. Way before the country got her independence in 1960, during the colonial era
and till now; these actions have either led to a definite change in the system or further sparked a
bigger chain of reactions (Adebowale, 2020).

Agitation according to Cambridge Dictionary (2022) is defined as the situation in which people
protest or argue, especially in public, in order to achieve a particular type of change.

Adebowale (2020) noted that back in the Old Oyo Empire, the Alaafin of Oyo was then a very
powerful monarch, but the system of government rested on the Ogboni to avoid excesses by the
Alaafin. The Ogboni played this role very well to the extent that when an Alaafin flouts the
separation of powers in place; he is sent a calabash, which by implication is an order to commit
suicide. This was the very case of Alaafin Aole (Son of Sango) when he was sent a calabash in
1817 by his famous war general Afonja, who felt he was a weakling and unfit to rule.

Also, in Midsummer of October 1946, the Abeokuta Ladies Club under the leadership of
Madame Olufunmilayo Ransome-Kuti submitted a list of demands to the Alake of Egbaland,
Oba Sir Ladapo Ademola II and one of their demands was the abolition of tax on women in
Abeokuta amongst other issues around their welfare. Their demands were ignored; Madame
Olufunmilayo was arrested and fined 3000 Pounds or risk going to prison. On November 29th
1947, she led a protest of 10,000 women to the palace of the Alake of Egbaland. They camped
around the palace for more than two days, sleeping, cooking and conducting all their affairs
around the palace grounds. The Pressure was so huge on the colonial government that they had
to abolish the tax laws and the Alake of Egbaland abdicated the throne on 3rd of January 1949.
It is observed that recently protests are means through which citizens used to demand improved
welfare, against oppressive regimes and basically for a fair right to life, right to be heard and
right to basic amenities. Okoye et al. (2021), pointed out that some of the deprivations that
usually leads to frustrations, agitations and protest among Nigerians are; neglect of the education
sector, neglect of youth development, poor service delivery, absence of rule of law, ineffective
anti-corruption mechanisms, lack of faith in the integrity of public office holders, lack of
effective mass participation in policy making, endemic corruption in governance, poverty and
mass unemployment.

According to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (2020)
good governance has eight major characteristics; it is participatory, consensus oriented,
accountable, transparent, responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows
the rule of law. It assures that corruption is minimized, the views of minorities are taken into
account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are heard in decision-making. It is
also responsive to the present and future needs of society. Meanwhile one of the major problems
facing Nigeria is the leadership problem where corruption abounds, the views of minorities are
not taken into account and the voices of the most vulnerable in society are not heard in decision-
making.

As a result of this bad leadership that have become the lot of this country, citizens have now
become more responsive. Citizen’s response to government actions is crucial in any country, as
it reveal the extent to which citizens participate in government and holds leaders accountable.
Citizen’s response plays a significant role in the progress of governance. The reaction of citizens
to leadership failings influences the present and future conduct of office holders. This;
appropriate citizens feedback should affect the quality and nature of decisions made by the
leadership and on a larger scale the quality of democracy in the country. Conversely, a lack of
appropriate feedback can also mean that the quality of leadership does not significantly improve
over time. According to the Armstrong (2013), community and citizen participation is a crucial
element of strengthening local, national and regional communities and increasing the bonds and
restoring trust between governments, service providers and citizens.

As earlier stated Nigeria has experienced a series of citizen’s movements that are in response to
government actions and or inactions which have taken different forms include riots, strikes,
protests and demonstrations. Since the introduction of a democratic government in 1999,
citizens' efforts at influencing the actions of their leaders have increased over the years and have
also changed to reflect technological changes. The advent of Internet and mobile technology
platforms have resulted in the increased importance of social media to citizens unrest and have
engendered a structural change in the manner in which citizens react to issues of governance
indifferent parts of the world.

The Social media age brought about online activism, which involves the use of platform like
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and use of mobile apps to raise awareness, share data and map
social issues. Social media had triggered the participation of young individuals in matters of
governance, politics, rule of law and citizens right and has been viewed as the modern platform
for citizens with common beliefs to share their grievances and hold the government accountable
as experienced during the Arab Spring. Various studies have shown the importance of digital
media to youth and their reliance on new media inconstant to traditional forms of media.
According to Flanagim and Metzger (2008) digital media use and engagement data indicate that
young people make up an increasingly small share of traditional media consumers and rely more
on new media to obtain their news and information.

There are several initiatives developed in response to governance failings in Nigeria between
2009 and 2014 and how governments have reacted to the demands of citizens. Examples are
Enough is Enough (EiE), Occupy Nigeria: The January 2012 Fuel Subsidy Protests, BudgIT,
Bring Back Our Girls, and the most recent one which is the focus of this study: EndSARS
protest.

The #EndSARS protest started as a call for the disbandment of Nigeria‘s Special Anti-Robbery
Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian Police Force that has earned notoriety for its brutality and
human rights violations. The hashtag was first used in 2018 to raise awareness of allegations of
violence and exploitation by SARS officials. The government announced structural changes to
SARS, but the alleged human rights violations and exploitation continued. In October 2020,
reports of an unprovoked shooting of a boy in the streets of Delta State by SARS operatives were
shared on social media (BBC News, 2020). Celebrities and activists rallied for support on
Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and, in a matter of days, protesters lined the streets of Lagos
and Abuja demanding an end to SARS. Pressured by the publicity that the protests had
generated, the Nigerian government swiftly announced the disbandment of SARS (Uwazuruike,
2020).

In December 2017, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) announced that SARS had been banned
from conducting stop and search operations following several reports of harassment. This ban
was publicly re-announced by the IGP in 2018 and 2020, reflecting the ineffectiveness of
previous orders. Some of the demands that were raised during the protest are; (i). Immediate
release of all arrested protesters. (ii). Justice for all deceased victims of police brutality and
appropriate compensations for their families. (iii) Setting up an independent body to oversee the
investigation and prosecution of all reported police misconduct within a period of 10 days. (iv).
Carrying out psychological evaluation and retaining of all disbanded SARS operatives before
they can deployed (this should be verified by an independent body). (v). the government should
increase police salary and they should adequately compensated for protecting lives and property
of the citizens (The Cable, 2020).

Adebowale (2020) asserts that the journey for a better Nigeria seems would be forged through
series of agitations. Looking at the number of development and several positive actions that have
been taken by government after citizens made their agitations known, it is evidence that a new
chapter of our country’s history is being written before our very eyes. It is based on this
background that the researcher will do an appraisal of effectiveness of public agitation on
government decision with a focus on the End SARS protest.

1.2 Statement of the problem

It has been observed by the researcher that Nigeria’s leaders don’t live up to their responsibilities
and perform their duties until things start to get out hands. They simply use their mouth to talk
about the situation or issues at hand just to water down people’s agitations and concern but no
definite actions are being taken to put an end to the demand raised by their people. The
EndSARS which was a case in point started as a call for the disbandment of Nigeria‘s Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian Police Force that has earned notoriety for its
brutality and human rights violations. The hashtag was first used in 2018 to raise awareness of
allegations of violence and exploitation by SARS officials. The government announced structural
changes to SARS, but the alleged human rights violations and exploitation continued. In October
2020, reports of an unprovoked shooting of a boy in the streets of Delta State by SARS
operatives were shared on social media (BBC News, 2020). Celebrities and activists rallied for
support on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and, in a matter of days, protesters lined the streets
of Lagos and Abuja demanding an end to SARS. Pressured by the publicity that the protests had
generated, the Nigerian government swiftly announced the disbandment of SARS (Uwazuruike,
2020). Also, other measures taken by government to put an end to the EndSARS protest was the
steps taken to bring the demands of the protesters alive which were the establishment of an
independent body to oversee the investigation and prosecution of all reported police misconduct
across states in Nigeria, immediate released of the EndSARS protesters, compensations for the
families of the deceased victims of police brutality by some State governors. Meanwhile several
scholars have examined the public perception of impact of social media on the EndSARS protest,
influence of social media networks as a mobilization for the EndSARS among others but little or
no research has been done to appraise the effectiveness of public agitations on government
decisions using the EndSARS protest as a study.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1. To determine the effectiveness of the EndSAR protest on government decision.
2. To evaluate the challenges faced by citizens during public agitations.
3. To know if public agitation is the effective means to influence government decisions.
4. To determine the impact of EndSARs protest on good governance in Nigeria.

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the effectiveness of the EndSARS protest on government decision?
2. What are the challenges faced by citizens during public agitations?
3. Is public agitation an effective means to influence government decisions?
4. What is the impact of EndSARs protest on good good governance in Nigeria?

1.5 Significance of the Study

This study is important because it will reinforce the need for citizens to be more politically
aware, be more conscious of the actions of their leaders and be ready to make their leaders
accountable for their actions and inactions.
This study will serve as benefits to other researchers interested in working in this field as it will
serve as a reference material for them.

1.6 Scope of the Study

This study will focus on an appraisal of effectiveness of public agitation on government decision
with a focus on the EndSARS protest. In this case, the study will be delimited to youths that
participated in the EndSARS protest within Abeokuta metropolis.

1.7 Operational definition of terms

Effectiveness: refers to the usefulness of showing public concern over social issues.
Public: a community of people in a particular regions or state.
Agitation: this is the situation whereby people protest or argue, especially in public, in order to
achieve a particular type of change.
Public Agitation: a situation whereby people residing within a community, regions go out to
show their concerns or argue to achieve a particular type of change.
Government Decision: this is the steps, actions taken by government.
EndSARS: refers to a decentralized social movement, and series of mass protests against police
brutality in Nigeria which started in 2017.
 Chapter two

Literature review

2. 1 Introduction

This chapter will comprehensively consider scholarly works and researches done on the topic. It
comprises of the conceptual, theoretical and empirical reviews.

2.2 Conceptual review

This is where scholars’ works on the independent and dependent variables on the topic will be
considered. Various scholarly angles to the topic will be put under subsection and be
comprehensively examined. Some of the concepts that will be reviewed are; The concept of
protest, forms of protest, concept of governance, concept of good governance, characteristics of
good governance, overview of the EndSARs protest, Overview of government response to the
EndSARs protest etc.

2.3 Theoretical review

Here, relative communication theories to support the topic will be looked into. The relevant
theories for this topic are Frustration- Aggression theory and the Good Governance theory.

Frustration and Aggression theory was originally developed by Dollard et al. (1939) and it was
reformed by Berkowitz (1965). It is one of the most influential theories of aggression. The theory
asserts that frustration is not a direct cause aggression but negative effect, which is the proximal
cause of aggressive disposition. It also suggests that frustrations are just one of the many
potential sources of negative affect. Essentially, frustration causes negative affect, which in turn
elicits aggressive inclinations.

Applying this theory to the Nigerian situation with respect to the EndSARS upheaval, it is
apparent that the masses of Nigerians, particularly the youth have experienced frustrations in
their efforts to attain instigated goal responses. The experience of no employment after
graduations from higher institutions of learning and poor infrastructural amenities that will
enable them achieve their targeted goals is frustrating enough. Therefore, it could be argued that
the EndSARS protest is a response to the arrays of frustrations which the masses of Nigerians
have experienced in their endeavour to attain set existential goals.

Good governance theory explains various perspectives about governance and how they evolve.
Good governance theory had its origin from a set of principles or policies formally introduced by
the World Bank in relating with and in assisting developing countries.

Applying this theory to the Nigerian scenario, it is quite obvious that politicians in Nigeria have
failed woefully in their responsibility of providing good governance to the citizens, who
entrusted the management of their resources in their hands. Not minding the abundant human
and material resources available in Nigeria, the citizens are dejected and frustrated due to poor
governance in the areas of provision of employment, lack of infrastructural amenities, inability to
eliminate abject poverty, poorly provided services in the public sector, insecurity, among others.
Indeed, as enunciated by the theory of good governance, when there is bad service, the citizens
are bound to protest as was witnessed in Nigeria.

2.4 Empirical review

1. Joshua (2021): Ethnic agitations and good governance structure in Nigeria: the aftermath of
the endsars protest in 2020; Journal des Sciences Sociales del’Universte Federale.

2. Celestina, Daniel, Ugochuckwu, and Dvaid (2019): IPOB Agitations for Self-Determination
and the Response of the Federal Government of Nigeria: Implications for Political Stability;

3. Igboke (2020): Agitations for Regime Change and Political Restructuring: Implications on
National Integration and Development in Nigeria.

4. Umar and Baba Isa (2021): Youths Movement: An Examination of End Special AntiRobbery
Squad (EndSARS) Protests and Challenges Facing the Nigerian Youths.

5. Okoye (2021): Democracy and Right to Freedom of Expression: A Case Study on the Nigerian
Youth Protest on Police Brutality
2.5 Summary
This section comprises of summary of all the items that made up the chapter two and how they
are relevant to the study.
 Chapter Three
Research methodology
3.1 Introduction
This research work will adopt various techniques to generate the necessary data to achieve a
meaningful and insightful result. This chapter will consider the research design, population of the
study, the sample size, sample procedure, method of data collection and method of data analysis
to be used
3.2 Research design
This study will adopt survey method.
3.3 Population of the study
The population of this study will be youths that participated in the EndSARS protest within
Abeokuta metropolis. There are 2,180,338 youths in Ogun State.
3.4 Sample size

The sample size of this study will be determined using the Taro Yamanee formular.

n=N
1 + N (e) 2
Where n = Sample size
N = Population
e = Margin of error (0.05)
3.5 Sample procedure
The probability sampling method to be used for this study is simple random sampling procedure
so that every member of the population will have equal chance of being selected.

3.5 Instrumentation
In order to produce a complete set of all the reliable data for analysis and meet the intended
objectives of the study questionnaire will be the major instrument for collection of data.

3.6 Method of data collection

The two sources of data to be considered in this study are primary and secondary data. Primary
source will involve the use of questionnaires. Secondary data represents the information gathered
in the course of writing on the topic understudy using published works in libraries, textbooks
workshop papers, unpublished papers, journals and internet. The secondary data is essential for
the literature review.
3.7 Validity and reliability of instrument
The instrument use for this study will be validated by the supervisor who will examine the extent
at which the objective of this study will be achieved via the instrument and ascertain it ability to
gather the data for the topic under study.
Reliability is the ability of research instrument to generate the same data years after the study has
been done. The reliability of the research instrument will be done by selecting few people that
will be interrogated and made to establish whether they understand the content of the
questionnaire. However, these people will not make part of the respondent for this study.

3.8 Method of data analysis

To analyze the data gathered from the field work, the researcher will present data using
frequency counts, tables and percentage.