The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest continued in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, today, Friday, August 2, with a relatively low number of participants.
Starting from Freedom Park, the protesters were joined by security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigeria Immigration Service, among others.
They marched through several streets, including MDS, Fagbewesa Junction, and Odi-Olowo Street, before returning to the Olaiya flyover, voicing their dissatisfaction with the federal and state governments' policies.
In a remarkable display of faith, Muslim faithful among the protesters observed Jum’uah prayers on the road, with security personnel providing cover for them.
After the prayers, the protesters dispersed but vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands were met.
Before the demonstration, Comrade Waheed Lawal, one of the organizers, addressed the protesters and urged them to avoid violence. He referenced the Northern States where reports of violence and looting had emerged and emphasized that Osun should be an example of peaceful protests for other states.
Speaking to journalists, Wole Oladapo, the convener of Nigeria for Good Governance, criticized the federal and state governments for misplaced priorities. He stated that the current protest would be a test case as public discontent continued to grow.
Oladapo said, “Things keep getting worse, and now we seem to be at the worst point. The president decided to remove the fuel subsidy unilaterally, putting the entire nation in jeopardy. To make matters worse, they floated and devalued the naira severely.
“We warned the federal government when the subsidy was removed that you can't solve one problem by creating another. We agree that subsidy is a scam, but you didn't properly analyze the regime before removing it. You took the money from that and gave it to the governors, another set of looters, and now, Nigerians are struggling to survive.
“We’ve seen how state allocations have increased since the subsidy was removed, but has it benefited the masses? No! Under Aregbesola, Osun State recognized the poverty among youth and provided jobs for 20,000 young people, boosting the state's economy.
“That program continued until Governor Adeleke took office. In nearly two years, we've seen no such initiatives. Aregbesola created 40,000 jobs in two terms, but this administration has done nothing despite the increased state allocations.
“The resources of local governments have been diverted by the states. We're here to tell the President, National Assembly members, and governors that the anger of Nigerians is just beginning. When it fully erupts, they may not survive it.
“That’s why they should listen to the masses' demands at gatherings like this. Our demands include restoring the fuel subsidy, stopping the devaluation of the naira, and opening borders to allow food imports. Tinubu is spending N15 trillion naira on a road project at the people's expense, and similar issues are happening in Osun.”
Osun Defender reports that on Thursday, August 1, 2024, Nigerians began a nationwide protest against the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu. The protest saw significant participation across the nation, including in Osun, Lagos, and the Federal Capital Territory, despite warnings and appeals from Tinubu, his ministers, and security agencies.
Comments
Post a Comment