- He maintained that the elite have crucial roles to play in building coalition for political change that leads to structural reforms.
Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said that political actions must yield concrete results, going beyond mere protests.
Osinbajo made this assertion during his keynote address at the Technology, New Media, Citizens and Governance Conference (TNCG) in Lagos.
He stressed that influential individuals play a pivotal role in driving transformative change.
Osinbajo stated, “Political action must go beyond protest and the euphoria that it brings.”
He added that in impoverished societies, every day of protest comes at a significant cost, as informal workers and traders sacrifice their daily earnings.
Osinbajo noted, “In poor societies, every day of protest is valuable, because it means that the millions of informal workers and traders make a huge sacrifice because they earn on a daily basis.”
He emphasized that meaningful change requires tangible outcomes, warning that ineffective action can be counterproductive.
Osinbajo said, “Political action must lead to some measurable or tangible result, otherwise it becomes counterproductive.”
He highlighted the crucial role of influential individuals in crafting objectives, articulating grievances, and mobilizing resources for transformative change.
Osinbajo stated, “The role of the elite in political action is crucial.”
He acknowledged the significance of technology and social media in mobilizing protesters, often without apparent leadership.
Osinbajo noted, “A major advantage of technology and in particular the social media in mobilising protesters is that the coordination of action can take place without any apparent leadership.”
Osinbajo also pointed to the transformative role of social media in mobilising protests across Africa, citing the #EndSARS movement in Nigeria as an example.
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