Political Action Must Go Beyond Protest And The Euphoria That It Brings – Yemi Osinbajo

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has stated that it is imperative for political action to go beyond mere protests, especially in impoverished societies.

He stressed the negative effect of protests on informal workers and traders who depend on daily earnings.

Osinbajo stated this while giving a keynote address at the Technology, New Media, Citizens, and Governance Conference, TNCG, in Lagos on Thursday.

“Political action must go beyond protest and the euphoria that it brings. It must lead to some measurable or tangible result, otherwise it becomes counterproductive,” he said.

While addressing the role of the elite in driving meaningful change, Osinbajo underscored their responsibility in crafting actionable objectives and building coalitions that lead to structural reforms.

“The role of the elite in political action is crucial. When I say the elite in this room, I speak of us, of civil society.

“The elite have the facilities to craft the objectives of political action or to clearly articulate the grievance and what would amount to success in the particular political action.

“They have the networks and the resources to build coalitions for political change, often leading to structural reforms; the type of change that makes a real difference,” the ex-VP noted.

Osinbajo, who also reflected on the dual-edged nature of technology and social media in mobilising political movements, praised the platforms for enabling leaderless coordination.