The Unity Fountain Park, Abuja is popular for its lovely fountain which has all the states of the federation inscribed on the corners of its white wall. During the Yuletide, it is designed with a huge Christmas tree to reflect the festivities.
However, the quiet and secluded nature of the landmark in Abuja has changed dramatically. After the abduction of the girls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State on April 14, the #BringBackO-urGirls (BBOG) Movement that campaigns for the rescue of the girls has made the fountain a meeting place for its members and supporters. This may be because of its proximity to the seat of power and the National Assembly.
Initially, they had problems with the police who tried to stop them. But it was impossible because of the democratic dispensation that allows freedom of speech and association for the citizens. That the park is a public and not a privately-owned arena gave impetus to its continued use by the group.
As expected, they shifted their sittings to another location during the World Economic Forum because of the security measures put in place to protect the delegates that came from all over the world. But they returned to the Unity Fountain at the end of the forum and continued to use it for their meeting until May 26 when the situation changed.
By this time, the Citizens Initiative for Security Awareness, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), gathered women and men at the fountain in the morning to march to the Villa and Defence Headquarters where they were addressed. Most of the women were seen crying their hearts out and throwing themselves on the floor like people at a funeral.
They gathered again at the Unity Fountain after the march. As if gearing for trouble, the women on the first day ensured that they pushed the BBOG group, who had been occupying the venue for long out of their position. On the second day at the park, they had occupied 70 per cent of the venue. Most of the women came with wrappers and mats and the lucky ones found a shade under the few trees where they slept. Others brought yams, tomatoes, oranges and vegetables among others. In no time, some of the women began selling some wares at the beautiful park; thereby turning it into a market place to chagrin of most residents.
As if that was not enough, some of them brought along white garment prophets who screamed and rang bells continuously, singing in a manner that prevents other groups from holding their meetings there.
On the third day, however, hell was let loose. Women of the NGO gathered earlier than the BBOG group as usual and still occupied more space. By the time the BBOG group arrived, the women tried to intimidate them. Some members of the NGO began to make so much noise, ringing their bells. When their antics could not work, some of their young men went ahead and infiltrated the BBOG group as if they were being converted to their cause and stood quietly listening.
After a while, some of the women, carrying sticks and leaves began running around the group, singing and chanting war songs in Igbo while making scary sounds. When this could not move members of the group, they attacked them.
The young boys that infiltrated the group easily turned on the BBOG and began beating members of the group, even as they seized their phones, cameras and broke chairs on them. Unfortunately, the police still did not intervene.
After a few days, the NGO group became tired and left due to non-payment of the stipend allegedly promised them.
After them, the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Group decided to make the venue its permanent campaign ground.
Carts and trucks gradually became stationed 10 to 15 paces from each other at the sides of the park, ensuring that the attention of road users was taken away from the group that sits there with their banners.
By the time it marked 100 days of the abduction of the girls from Chibok, the NGO group returned, but, this time around, not as aggressive as before. Even though they still ensure that they occupied more space and dispossessed the BBOG of its position, Nigerians watched them live on national television station where they were seen praying hard for the abducted girls to be released.
Now that the Goodluck Campaign Group probably noticed that their numerous campaign techniques are not working as much as they would want them to, they have decided to change technique. This time, they have flooded the park with additional posters. The posters at four points of the park read: #BringBackGoodluck2015.
Former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, said: “We will not be intimidated. We will continue with the struggle because we are fighting on the side of justice and freedom; and freedom is a powerful idea that goes beyond intimidation of thugs.”
