A growing chorus of Nigerians is calling out northerners for their perceived hypocrisy in speaking out against bad governance under President Tinubu after remaining largely silent during President Buhari’s tenure.
On social media, users like Aluh Ojochenemi Samuel expressed frustration, stating, “If every region must protest, the North should not join them, they’re the worst thing that happened to Nigeria.”
Abdulkareem Omale from North Central echoed similar sentiments, saying, “Under Buhari, we knew what happened. All the northern scholars shut up. Here they are. Nobody has a monopoly on violence. If the North does anyhow, we divide this entity. They’re mad, stating that the core North remained silent during Buhari’s presidency, except for Sheikh Bello Yabo, who called for revolution.
These comments highlight the perceived double standard of some northerners who were quiet during Buhari’s presidency but are now vocal under Tinubu’s administration. Many Nigerians are questioning the sudden outrage and accusing northerners of selective activism.
The #EndBadGovernance protest has brought to the fore the country’s deep-seated regional and ethnic divisions, with some Nigerians feeling that the North has been complicit in the country’s problems.
As the protest gains momentum, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the demands for change and whether the North will continue to be vocal in its criticism of the administration.