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Although President Bola Tinubu vowed on Sunday morning during a nationwide broadcast meant to address the ongoing national hunger protest, that his government would not allow a small group with a political agenda to tear the nation apart, the organisers of the ‘End Hunger’ protest in Lagos said they will continue their demonstration at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, on Monday, August 5, 2024.

At about 10.00am on Monday in Abuja, protesters gathered at the City Gate while protests continued at Nyanya, at the Kurudu axis near the Nigeria Post Army Estate in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Dutse, Bwari Area Council, Abuja.

Meanwhile, Law & Society gathered that there is an ongoing violent clash between government security personnel and commercial motorcycle riders near a mosque in Karu, AMAC, Abuja.

Likewise, in Kaduna on Monday, the EndBadGovernanceinNigeria protest continued as youth in large numbers took to the streets to demand an end to bad governance and economic hardship.

A statement issued on Sunday, signed by Hassan Taiwo, Ayoyinka Oni, and Adegboyega Adeniji on behalf of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organising Committee, the group expressed disappointment that it took President Tinubu three days of protests to address the nation.

Armed with flags of different colours and placards with various inscriptions,  the protesters marched along the Constitution Road down to the stadium roundabout in the Kaduna State capital, while other groups were also seen protesting along the Ungwan Sariki Ali Akilu Road,  demanding the removal of fuel subsidy and improved economic conditions.

Today’s protest comes after demonstrations were suspended last Thursday after the protest turned violent midway.

Following the Renewed Protest security has been up along all the major roads and government offices to avert any breakdown of law and order

Not even the presence of the police could stop the determined protesters, as they marched from the stadium roundabout to Ahmadu Bello way down to the NEPA roundabout and Ali Akilu Road.

The protesters could be heard chanting anti-government songs in Hausa language, and holding Russian flags, calling on President Bola Tinubu to resign.

Hoodlums Loot

Subsequent reports say the hoodlums have started looting government and private buildings around Nepa Junction at Roundabout,  as they take to the streets to demand an end to bad governance and economic hardship.

Many of them were seen carting away with generating sets, roofing sheets,  office chairs, door burglaries and other items.

Meanwhile,  security forces have stopped the protesters from moving beyond the NEPA roundabout.

Among the protesters are minors as young as five years.

Notable Nigerians including Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar and Oby Ezekwesili described the president’s speech as being out of touch with the realty of Nigerians.

The 90-year-old Nobel laureate, a close ally of Tinubu, said the Sunday broadcast failed to address security agencies’ use of lethal force to quell #EndHunger protests across Nigeria which began last Thursday.

He also pointed out that the president’s refusal to address the matter in his speech was an endorsement and empowering the security agencies to continue toeing the pact of impunity.

Atiku Abubakar dismissed the broadcast, calling it a hollow speech devoid of solutions to the hardship facing Nigerians; while Oby Ezekwesili, a former Minister of Education, said it read like a party manifesto and failed to connect with citizens’ concerns.

The #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria group’s statement also followed the President’s broadcast where he urged them to suspend their demonstrations in favor of dialogue.

“We consider the President’s decision to address the nation an important victory for our movement,” the organizers said.

“Without our courage and resolve to dare the odds, even this acknowledgement would not have happened. So far, we have demonstrated that a President is not greater than the rest of the country,” the statement read.

The group criticised the President for what they described as a dual approach: offering dialogue while also demanding an end to the protests.

They also condemned recent violence against protesters, including attacks by thugs during a Sunday morning worship session and an incident where a protester was struck on live television.

“In our view, the president cannot be approbating and reprobating at the same time. The President cannot offer an olive branch while at the same time holding a dagger to our throat,” the trio said.

The organizers then called on Nigerian youth and the general public to join them at 7 a.m. on Monday at Gani Fawehinmi Park for the fifth day of protests.

They urged the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, the media, and the Nigerian Bar Association to support their cause and not “stand idly by” as they face suppression.

The Lagos State government had previously described the protests as peaceful, but recent footage has shown clashes between protesters and hoodlums.

The organizers insist that their demonstration reflects the deep-seated frustration of ordinary Nigerians and remains committed to their demands for governance reform.

It would be recalled that ahead of the protests, Womanifesto, a body of over 300 women rights activists, advocates and organizations opened a situation room while declaring that it will join the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest in Nigeria to demand for accountability and good governance devoid of harassment and intimidation.

The group in a statement signed by its convener, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said:

“As working professionals, thought leaders, human rights advocates and mothers, we identify with the suffering of Nigerians fuelled by high inflation, low purchasing power, high cost of electricity and fuel as well as wasteful spending by governments at federal, state and local government levels. Nigerians are tired,hungry and disgruntled.

“It is disheartening that several government officials, state and non-state actors have made numerous attempts to label this protest as a coup, treason, or insurrection. The propaganda is loud, deliberately provoking and incongrous. Across the world, civil liberty and the right to gather is protected by law; and the same applies in Nigeria. We reject all spoken or insinuated attempts to bully Nigerians into silence. Such oppressive antics will be firmly resisted by Nigerians.

“In a bid to provoke their supporters to harrass #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protesters, Womanifesto has watched with dismay attempts by various elements to misrepresent the history and facts about the 2020 ENDSARS protest led by the Nigerian youth. It is the truth that following prolonged assault, harassment and killings by security agents especially from the Nigerian police, youths rose up to protest. The protest is documented as being largely peaceful across the country until the infiltration of thugs and criminals, most of whom are believed to be politically sponsored. The attending looting and destruction is also directly linked to the revelations of government personnel, institutions and traditional leaders hoarding food relief or palliatives, meant for their communities.

“Attempts to minimize the pains of Nigerians and their desire and right to display grievances through protests will be resisted by Womanifesto. Civil Society Organisations, lawyers and human rights advocates under Womanifesto stand with the Nigerian people’s constitutional right to gather without fear of harassment. We demand that the Nigerian police protects peaceful protesters across the country. Commendably, the Nigerian police as well as the State Security Service have announced that threats to peace have been identified. We anticipate that these identified threats will be prevented from attacking Nigerians during the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest. This is the duty of the police to Nigerians.

“We understand the agitations of governments across Africa as citizens stand up to demand the good governance they voted for. It is however unbecoming that instead of addressing the situation, some persons possibly under the influence of the government have taken to the streets to protest the #ENDBADGOVERNANCE protest. We have also read of threats by state and non-state actors, to attack protesters and fulfil their own prophecy of doom. We call on the police to swing into action and call these persons to order.

“We are sending a notification to the Nigerian military to stay off civil matters such as protests. There will not be a repeat of 2020, when the police and military killed our children, sisters and brothers. The President, state governors and the Nigerian security apparatus, especially the Nigeria police, will be held responsible for any single injury or loss incurred during this protest.

“Womanifesto demands that the federal government addresses the nation, itemizing tangible and measurable short, mid and long term plans to ameliorate the general economic hardship in the country. We will expect this plan to include clearly spelt out timelines which we will monitor, evaluate outcomes and suggest further steps to be taken by both the government and the citizens…”