By Our Reporter
As the federal government prepares for a low-key Independence Day anniversary celebration, the #EndBadGovernance organizers are also putting final touches to their planned protest billed to take place the same day, October 1, 2224.
President Bola Tinubu who took over the mantle of leadership from former president Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023, had had to grapple with a serious economic crisis which he claimed he inherited from his predecessor.
During his inaugural speech, Tinubu announced the immediate removal of fuel subsidies. Subsequent policies introduced by the Tinubu government like float of the naira, and increase in electricity tariff, all of which were intended to revive the economy, only worsened the living standards of the people and set off runaway inflation, as prices of basic goods soared.
Consequently, FG on Thursday, September 26 announced that the October 1 Independence Day would be on a low-key basis due to the mood of the nation.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume told newsmen that President Tinubu’s government was aware of and sympathized with all Nigerians over the economic conditions they were passing through, hence the reason for a low-key celebration.
But some Nigerians adversely affected by the high cost of living amid dwindling wages are bent on using the occasion of the celebration to press home their demands on the government to attack headlong some of the lingering challenges bedeviling the nation.
Should the protest tagged FearlessInOctober take place tomorrow (Tuesday) as the organizers have promised, it would be the second time since this administration that the people will be embarking on a nationwide protest. The first was on August 1, 2024, which lasted for 10 days.
However, the organizers claimed that President Bola Tinubu had given deaf ears to their initial demands, prompting the October 1 nationwide protest.
In a statement jointly signed by the Education Rights Campaign, ERC, Movement for Fundamental Change, MFC Youth Rights Campaign, YRC, Joint Action Front, JAF, and Pan-African Consciousness Renaissance, PACOR-Nigeria, the organizers insisted that the demands raised during the August protests were not addressed.
They called on Nigerians to engage in peaceful protests against “anti-poor policies”, including the removal of fuel subsidies, which according to them has resulted in the current situation being experienced in the nation.
“As we speak, the price of fuel hovers between N900 per litre to N1900 per litre depending on which part of the country you are in.
“Meanwhile, less than two years ago, a liter of fuel did not cost more than N2 00 per litre. This is outrageous. This is intolerable. As a direct consequence of this increment, life has become unbearable for many Nigerian people.
“Many are starving as the increase in fuel price has also impacted food prices. Inflation has rendered the N70,000 new National Minimum Wage irrelevant and incapable of bringing any relief to Nigerian workers”, he said.
One of the organizers and 2023 presidential candidates of African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, Monday, reportedly declared protest will go on as planned and it is not to attract the attention for dialogue with Aso Rock but for their demands to be met.
Sowore said the movement is to ensure that the tyranny in the democratic system is defeated.
He said: “The October 1 nationwide peaceful protest will be held in Abuja at Eagle Square.
“The protest has always made a difference, it has always defeated tyranny and oppression.
“We did not plan the protest to get an invitation to the Aso Rock Villa.”
He also stated that they (protesters) are not ready for any other thing but, “No, answer, I am sure we are only ready for change, not monologue.
“The ultimatum attached to our demands to be met is tomorrow (October 1, 2024).”
The organizers claimed they had duly informed the police about their intention and looked forward to receiving the required protection.
The Lagos State Police Command and the Department of State Services, DSS assuring protesters of police protection during planned protest, however, warned protesters against the breakdown of law and order.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olarenwaju Ishola, who spoke on Friday during a town hall meeting with stakeholders and other security agencies, warned troublemakers to steer clear of the state.
“We are not stopping anybody from protesting, it is your legitimate right. We will protect all so that miscreants do not hijack it, ” he said.
The protesters are demanding among other things a reversal of the fuel subsidy removal, reducing electricity tariff, tackling insecurity, restoring the value of the naira, etc.