Some of the hunger protest organizers say they won’t back down from the demonstrations, despite the fact that economic activities have slightly picked up in many parts of the country.
President Bola Tinubu addressed Nigerians on Sunday after three days of nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The president called for dialogue to end the ongoing hunger protests, which have claimed the lives and properties of many innocent Nigerians.
Tinubu described the violent protests in Kano, Jigawam, Borno, Kaduna, and some other states as painful, saying that scarce resources will be used to restore them.
He, however, reeled out his 14-month achievements and sought an end to violence and bloodshed, promising reforms.
FULL TEXT: Tinubu Condemns Deadly Protests, Describes Attacks On Properties in Kano Shameful
But the outlined achievements were not good enough to convince the protesters, who specifically asked for the return of fuel subsidies and the end of bad governance.
They vowed to remain on the streets until their demands were met.
Making good of their promise on Sunday, shortly after the president’s address, a small group of protesters gathered around Gani Fawehinmi Park, chanting solidarity songs.
The protesters said the president has not addressed the core issues raised by them, despite touching on efforts by his administration.
Meanwhile, around 10:03 a.m., the security operatives barred protesters, who were in small numbers, from holding a procession beyond the designated ground at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.
The protesters thereafter complied without argument and returned to the designated point.
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In the meantime, hoodlums on Sunday morning chased #EndBadGovernance protesters who gathered around Gani Fawehinmi Park in the Ojota area of Lagos State.
Protest Continues in Osun; Organizers Discuss What Next
In Osun State, protest organizers say they will meet to decide the next line of action after President Bola Tinubu appealed to protesters to suspend their protest and come for dialogue.
Mr. Ajala Adetunji, the Osun Coordinator of the Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, the group spearheading the protest, said that the presidential appeal will be reviewed by all involved in the protest.
“The protest is not a one-man show, especially as far as Osun’s case is concerned.
“As far as the presidential address this morning is concerned, Mr. President did not address any of our concerns.
“The president was not specific on what the government would do to address the demands of the youth,” he said.
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According to him, the president’s call for dialogue is an open-ended appeal that does not have a clear indicator of what will be done.
“However, we are still going to meet to deliberate, but as it stands, the protest continues in Osun,” he said.
Waheed Lawal, Chairman, Osun People’s Coalition Society, whose group is also part of the protest, said that the presidential appeal will be deliberated upon by various groups involved in the protest.
Lawal said that the leadership of the various groups that were involved in the protest will have to meet to decide on what to do following the appeal by Mr. President.
READ ALSO: Security Operatives Arrest Over 50 Protesters In Abuja – Amnesty International
“The protest is an all-Nigerian protest, and Nigerians have to decide what the next course of action will be.
“However, I feel that the demands of Nigerians and the protesters were not addressed by the president, but the masses will decide what will be done next.” he said
Protesters converged on Freedom Park in Osogbo on Sunday, from where they match out into the streets, in continuation of the nationwide protest.
Grassroots Parrot had reported how President Tinubu, during his national address on Sunday, appealed to the protest organizers to suspend their protest following the killings and destruction that were experienced over the last three days.
