By Abdurrahman Aliyu Rimi
Revolutions have occurred through human history and vary widely in terms of methods, duration and motivating ideology. Their results include major changes in culture, economy and socio-political institutions, usually in response to perceived overwhelming autocracy or plutocracy. In Nigeria what kind of revolution need? Changing in cultural activities? Or economic and social-political institutions?
Why join a revolution? This was a question covered extensively by many peoples especially in north. What he revealed is that joining a revolution isn’t so simple as just wanting “change”. Change is obviously a necessary outcome of a successful revolution, but the causes of revolution are much broader than many might think.
Some revolutions are irrational, carried out for anarchic purposes. Some people might classify the African countries Revolution as “Anarchic,” as it was done to eliminate the state apparatus. It turned into much more than that, but the roots of this revolution were anarchal in nature. Some revolutions are rational.
But why join any revolution – rational or irrational? A cost-benefit analysis would show that joining a revolution hardly pays off most times, and could often lead to imprisonment or death. Also, the revolutionaries aren’t always the ones to profit off of the change they inspired, as the fruits of their labor might come much later. A revolution carried out ‘before its time’ is not really a revolution – it is a squashed attempt at insurrection. Revolutionaries, especially the ‘irrational’ ones, likely don’t weigh the costs and benefits of their actions. Revolutionaries acquire at some point a rabid drive for their respective cause.
Also important to consider is the very human ‘mob’ mentality of any movement, revolution or otherwise. People generally want to be involved with something bigger than themselves. This runs the gamut from religion to cults to political parties. Once someone is committed to defending a way of life, a specific view, or the merits of a revolution, there is really no convincing that person otherwise.
Some revolutions can even be considered as revolutions to revolutions! An added emphasis on identity politics and the contemporary social movements therein can spur an equal reaction from nationalists. A political revolution establishing a communist regime might be met with an immediate capitalist or democratic reaction in the form of a coup. Are these revolutions, or are they returns to the status quo? Can a revolution move “progress” (and whatever label we give to that) backward?
So In this country why People need revolution?
