Femi Falana led protest in Lagos today and we are still asking the same questions

I saw the footage this morning. Hundreds of Nigerians marched through Lagos on this Democracy Day, carrying placards that read Free All Captives Now and End Anti-People Policies Now. Femi Falana, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, was there in person lending his voice to the cause. The protesters are demanding immediate action on economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment.

The timing is deliberate. June 12 is supposed to symbolise our collective hope for democracy, yet here we are 27 years after Abiola's mandate, still dealing with mass abductions in Oyo and Borno, still watching inflation eat our salaries, still paying through our noses for transport. The protesters are not asking for miracles. They are asking for basic governance.

What struck me most was the counter-protest that also showed up, carrying banners saying Better Days Ahead for Nigeria and asking people to exercise patience. Patience for what exactly? We have been patient since 1999. At some point, patience becomes complicity. How many more Democracy Days must pass before we see real change?