By Felicia Udeji
The 10-day protest against Hunger and bad Governance has come to an end today with a one-million-man march to climax the rally.
The organising groups yesterday threatened to lock down the entire country today to press home their demands, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide speech was not convincing.
The protesters are demanding a reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, an increase in the minimum wage to N250,000, and an end to bad governance, among other issues.
In a statement on Friday, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Sanyaolu Juwon, said the August 10 protest would represent a pivotal moment in the nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign.
He said, “The Take It Back Movement, along with other organisers and organisations, will lead a one-million-man protest in each of the 36 states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on August 10.
“This event will mark a critical juncture in our nationwide #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria campaign, which began on August 1, 2024.
“It started as a planned 10-day protest but has evolved into a sustained and widespread movement, drawing participants from every corner of Nigeria and the Diaspora.”
Juwon also demanded the release of the protesters and organisers arrested by security agents.
He said, “On the troubling matter of unlawful arrests, we unequivocally condemn the detention of Michael Adaramoye (Lenin), Babatunde Oluajo, and others who were arrested on August 5, and on previous and subsequent days. Their continued imprisonment by the DSS and the police is a gross violation of their rights. We demand their immediate release and call for an end to these unjust detentions.”
Hundreds of policemen and security operatives have been deployed in major cities across the country as organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest prepares for a one million-man march today.
In Abuja, the number of security operatives at Eagles Square, Business Central District area in the FCT,and other major areas has increased.
In Lagos, policemen were seen around major bus stops, including Ojota, Ketu, Obalende, Berger, and other locations where it is believed the march is taking place.
Soldiers from Operation Mesa, personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies were also spotted on the scene.
Speaking with our newsmen on the arrangement by security agents on Friday, Juwon said the increased presence of security agents and the recent clampdown on protesters is in no way affect the march.