Organisers of the ‘End Hunger’ protest in Lagos have announced that they will continue their demonstration 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,” stated the US president.
The organisers stated that they see the choice to address the nation as a “important victory for our movement.”
“Without our strength and will to face the odds, this acknowledgement would not have occurred. So far, we’ve shown that a President isn’t above the rest of the country,” the statement stated.
While acknowledging Tinubu’s offer of conversation, they expressed worry that the President had also ordered the demonstration to be suspended. “In our opinion, the president cannot approve and condemn at the same time. The President cannot extend an olive branch while clutching a dagger to our throat,” the trio stated.
The statement criticised the incident in which “thugs attacked protesters who had gathered for Sunday morning worship, injuring many.”
The statement continued: “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.”
The Lagos protest had been deemed peaceful by the state administration, but a video taken by Channels TV on Sunday showed protestors being chased by hoodlums carrying sticks near Ojota a few hours after the President’s address.
A video went viral over the weekend showing a protester addressing a journalist being smacked in the head by a hoodlum during a live interview on the protest grounds.
The organisers also urged the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, as well as the media and the Nigerian Bar Association, not to “chase us out of the streets” instead of addressing their concerns. “As far as we are concerned, the #EndBadGovernance protest emerged from the suffering and frustration of ordinary Nigerian youth and people,” they added.