#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: PROTESTS RESUMES IN LAGOS, SAYS ORGANISERS
Organisers of the ‘End Hunger’ protest in Lagos have announced that they will continue their protest on Monday at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota.
This is according to a Sunday statement signed by Hassan Taiwo, Ayoyinka Oni, and Adegboyega Adeniji on behalf of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organising Committee at Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos State.
They stated that they listened intently to President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on Sunday and “consider it rather unfortunate” that it took President Tinubu three days of protest to address the nation.
Tinubu confirmed in a countrywide broadcast on Sunday morning that his administration was prepared to listen to and address protesters’ concerns, saying he had heard their voices “loud and clear.”
“I hereby enjoin protesters and the organisers to suspend any further protest and create room for dialogue, which I have always acceded to at the slightest opportunity,” the president said.
The organisers noted that they consider the decision to address the nation an “important victory for our movement.”
“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.
While acknowledging Tinubu’s offer of conversation, they expressed worry that the President had also ordered the protest to be suspended.
“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 statement condemned the scenario “where thugs attacked protesters who had gathered for Sunday morning worship thereby injuring many.”
It added, “So we therefore call on all Nigerian youth and mass of the people to join us by 7 am at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos tomorrow (Monday) August 5, 2024, which is Day 5 of the protest.”