All Nigerians must play their part for the kind of country they want and deserve — current location, and comfort be damned.
This is the story of the #endSARS protest — this heartwarming picture that all young Nigerians have answered this clarion call for a better society, no matter where you live, who you love, and what you own. And Nigerians living in Berlin are a part of this story.
Last Sunday, October 11, Nigerians living in Berlin stormed the Nigerian embassy to join millions of Nigerians at home in calling to an end to SARS. Because it was a weekend, they had no official audience. Just the Berlin police present who were there to make sure everything went smoothly.
Still, they chanted, they sang, they told stories of their encounter with police brutality in the chilly weather, joining their voices and hashtags with millions at home. It was heartwarming to witness.
But just like their stubborn counterparts back home who refuse to give up until a real change is seen, they went back again on Tuesday, Oct 13. This time the embassy was opened and so were the offices. Meaning many of the Berlin protesters had to either call in sick or ask for 2 hours from their management to come to the protest. It was a sacrifice well worth it.
They chanted so loud and refused to move until a representative of the ambassador met with them. They had a letter for him, one that the official whatsapp group for Nigerian youths in Berlin had painstakingly proofread that morning. It contained a reiteration of the 5on5 demands that Nigerians back home were already calling for and their resolve to continue to protest until they were met.
“Shey e no go end up for recycle bin,” someone asked amidst the crowd because this is our reality: that our voices and pain can be easily dumped and tramped on by Nigerian elites. No, the ambassador rep assured.
Regardless of the assurance, Nigerians in Berlin were already in groups, talking about other ways to support the cause: donating via Flutterwave or bitcoin, coming back again on another date, following the lead back home, retweeting hashtags…
They won’t be worn out, they swore, because home is home wherever you are.