February 26, (THEWILL) – Ahead of the planned nationwide protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Tuesday, some members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos, Edo and Osun States hit the streets on Monday, to protest over hunger and the rising economic hardship in the country
In Lagos, THEWILL reports that hundreds of protesters, mostly youths, led by a human rights group, “Take It Back Movement”, marched through Ojuelegba under bridge area of Lagos, displaying placards.
There was, however, heavy presence of armed police officers to forestall any possible violence.
One of the National Coordinators of the protests, Juwon Sanyaolu, said the protest was a demonstration of the people’s will against oppressive tendencies and hardship.
“Yes, despite police attempts to frustrate the people, Lagosians stood their ground. The police are paid by taxpayers’ money, they are meant to secure us. We were able to march from Yaba Labour House to Maryland. The protest will continue tomorrow and updates will be given. We will join the NLC in their nationwide mass action to put an end to this hardship created by the ruling elite,” Sanyaolu added.
Recall that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, had warned on Sunday, that anyone found infringing on the rights of others would be dealt with lawfully.
The police boss advised against any action capable of grounding commercial activities and obstructing the free flow of traffic in Lagos State.
Fayoade assured residents of Lagos State that necessary security measures had been put in place to protect lives and property, with or without any protest. He said officers and men had been deployed to ensure the free flow of traffic and ensure a peaceful environment for the conduct of lawful engagements.
Meanwhile, commercial activities were temporarily grounded in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Monday, following a protest by the Edo Civil Society Organisations (EDOCSO).
The group, which staged a protest march from the Ring Road down to the Akpakpava Road and other busy roads in the city centre, brandished placards with various inscriptions like “Nigerians are starving to death”, “Tinubu, end hunger and suffering in Nigeria”, “FG, end the hunger in Nigeria now”, and “Tinubu, let Nigerians breath” among others.
Recall that the group had earlier given President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima a 14-day ultimatum to quit power or fix the Nigerian economy.
The group made the call in a communique signed by its interim Chairman, Leftist Austine Enabulele, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Benin City during the protest.
Addressing journalists at the venue of the protest, Interim TEC Chairman, Leftist Austine Enabulele, said the 14-day ultimatum given to President Tinubu to fix the Nigerian economy has since elapsed and nothing has been done to address the issue of hunger in the country.
“If you remember, on the 10th of February, we held a press briefing and gave the Federal Government two weeks to fix the problems of Nigeria, to fix the suffering and hunger in Nigeria.
“That two weeks have long expired and nothing has been done. So, we have come out today to tell President Bola Tinubu to fix the hunger and suffering in Nigeria, that enough is enough.
“We cannot take the pain anymore. Enough of the hunger, enough of the hardship, enough of bad governance in Nigeria.
“If he can’t fix the problems of Nigeria, he should resign quickly with his Vice President Shettima and let us conduct a fresh election because Nigerians are dying every day. Children are now becoming orphans because their fathers are dying of hardship in Nigeria.
“We are saying enough is enough. If he can’t fix the problems of Nigeria, he should resign and go,” Enabulele said.
Leftist Enabulele also decried the dollarisation of the Nigerian economy, saying that Nigerians should be used to their currency, which is the Naira.
“He should give value to our Naira because Nigerians do not use Dollars. We cannot be living our lives in Dollars. If you want to buy something in the market, they will tell you that Dollar has increased. If you want to buy common pumpkin leaves, they will say Dollar has increased.
“We are using Naira and they must give value to our Naira. If he can’t fix the problems, he should resign,” Enabulele said.
Similarly, in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, the protesters converged on Nelson Mandela Park.
Chanting songs while displaying placards, they called on the Federal Government to “End the High Cost of Living.”
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