By Our Reporter
Against the backdrop of president Tinubu’s address to the nation, Sunday, appealing to the protesters to end their agitations and dialogue with him, the organisers of the ‘End Hunger’ protest in Lagos have perceived the president’s speech as lacking in content and coming too late- three days after the protest began. They have therefore announced plans to continue their demonstration at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, on Monday, August 5, 2024.
They made this remark in a statement issued on Sunday, and signed by Hassan Taiwo, Ayoyinka Oni, and Adegboyega Adeniji on behalf of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.
Recall that the President made his broadcast to the nation earlier on Sunday morning, where he noted the protesters’ concerns and implored them to suspend their demonstrations in favor of dialogue.
In the statement by the organisers of the “End Hunger” they acknowledged the success of their protest, noting that their actions have forced the president to address the nation, which they considered a major victory in their quest.
“We consider the President’s decision to address the nation an important victory for our movement,” the organizers said.
“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.
They lambasted the President for what they described as a ‘veiled’ threat and a dual approach towards ending the protest: offering dialogue while also demanding an end to the protest.
They also condemned recent violence against protesters, including attacks by thugs during a Sunday morning worship session and an incident where a protester was struck on live television.
“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.
They concluded that they will be meeting again on Monday at 7:00am to continue their protest and therefore called on Nigerian youths and the general public to join them at the same venue; Gani Fawehinmi Park for the fifth day of protests.
They urged the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, the media, and the Nigerian Bar Association to support their cause and not “stand idly by” as they face suppression.
The organisers of the protest berated the Lagos State government for their ‘tongue in cheek’ statement of describing the protest as ‘peaceful’, claiming that recent footage showing clashes between protesters and hoodlums, proved otherwise.
The organizers stated that they will not relent in their quest for “EndBadGovernance” and “End Hunger” in Nigeria, insisting that Nigeria belongs to all and not a select few.