By Milcah Tanimu
Nigerian comedian and activist Mr. Macaroni has sharply criticized the government’s handling of the ongoing #endbadgovernance protests, accusing authorities of undermining peaceful demonstrations. He emphasized that the current unrest highlights the government’s failure to support and protect protesters.
On August 1, 2024, Mr. Macaroni took to X to respond to a post by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who had claimed that protesters in Lagos State were peaceful. Mr. Macaroni condemned the police for allegedly attacking peaceful demonstrators while ignoring disruptive elements sent by the state.
He wrote, “This is proof that protests remain peaceful and well-intentioned until state-sponsored thugs are deployed to create chaos. The police, instead of addressing these infiltrators, attack the peaceful protesters. This pattern is not unique to Lagos but is seen across various states.”
Mr. Macaroni drew parallels to the 2020 EndSARS protests, accusing the government of attempting to rewrite the narrative of past events. He noted, “The government will eventually try to erase history as if the events never occurred. This is reminiscent of how EndSARS was handled, with records documenting the real adversaries who inflicted terror upon our society.”
He also criticized the involvement of anti-protesters who have threatened and confronted those demonstrating peacefully. “Isn’t it ironic that the same people who once protested peacefully are now trying to halt others from doing the same?” Mr. Macaroni questioned.
He concluded, “If people wish to protest and voice their grievances to the government, they should be allowed to. The government cannot continue to oppress people and then silence their complaints. It is the government’s duty to safeguard peaceful protesters, but instead, it is perpetuating the very issues it should address.”
