#EndBadGovernaceInNigeria protest kicks off, grounds economic activities in Lagos, commences in Abuja

By KEMI KASUMU, Lagos, and OUR REPORTER, Abuja

Despite efforts including plat to parade Oro cult in Lagos State and huge amount of money believed to have been expended by government to block Nigerians from exercising their constitutional right protesting against bad governance and hardship in the country, all the efforts caught got consumed by fire as the protesters stormed the streets in the Centre of Excellence on Thursday as scheduled.

The nationwide protest, which aims to express the feelings of Nigerians about anti-people policies of the Tinubu administration, has brought economic activities in Lagos State to a near standstill.

Traders in the state observed their weekly sanitation exercise which is held every Thursday and ends by 10am.

In what coincided with the commencement of the protest, the usually bustling markets in the state remained shut after the exercise, according to a media source which observed and said that major markets in Ikotun, Egbeda, Iyana Ipaja, Dopemu, and Akowonjo, Ayobo were all shut.

There was also a similar sight in the Ikeja and Agege and Ojota areas of the state where a few traders were however seen loitering around the market areas, anticipating the turn of events.

At Ojota, presence of hitherto rumoured government hired thugs was confirmed as some hoodlums pretending to be police tried to cause trouble but were tactically avoided by the anti-hunger protesters.

A trader, who identified himself simply as Emmanuel, reportedly said that the closure of the market was due to the protest.

He said, “We are going to open our shops but not yet. We are still observing how the protest will turn out.”

Another trader who craved anonymity said, “Many of us did not observe the sanitation exercise. All we are concerned is about the safety of our market.”

Banks and filling stations were also closed down in these areas as observed by our correspondent.

Some residents could also be seen clustered around their communities, discussing the developments.

Meanwhile, heavy security presence has been sighted along these areas as they were seen manning strategic locations.

The protest tagged, “Days of Rage” would hold nationwide from August 1 to 10.

However, top government personalities, groups, and religious bodies, including the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (Lagos chapter), and the Muslim Rights Concern, have called for the protest to be shelved, citing a palpable fear that it might be hijacked by infiltrators who do not mean well for the country.

However, in Lagos, pro-government protesters gathered at Alausa, Ikeja, urging the people to come out en masse to protest while carrying placards with inspiration like “Let us dialogue together”, “Dont cause more suffering”, “Dialogue is better than violence” and others.

#EndBadGovernance pro-government protest in Lagos
One of the conveners seen addressing people, in the native Yoruba language, said, “The campaign we are making is not to destroy Nigeria. Nigeria would not be destroyed. All the government needs to do is to support the people.”

Like Abuja, a Lagos State High Court also restricted the protest to the Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park in Ojota and the Peace Park in Ketu in Lagos.

The judge granted the application through an interim injunction to restrict the defendants from converging and protesting in Lagos from August 1-10 except in the two approved locations from 8 am to 6 pm.

Some Nigerians, along with a group led by former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, have been mobilising for nationwide protests scheduled to hold from today, August 1 to August 10.

The organisers are planning to protest for various reasons including poor governance and economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s reforms.

The posts and tweets on the protest carry different hashtags, ranging from #RevolutionNow, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, #TakeItBack, #DaysofRage and #TinubuMustGo.

In the meantime, developing story from Abuja has it that the protest has started in the Federal Capital Territiry (FCT).

Protesters, heavily guarded by security agents, were seen chanting anti-hunger songs at the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola Stadium, Abuja, as at the time of this report on Thursday.

They carried placards with inscriptions, including “End bad governance in Nigeria”, and “making lawmakers part-time jobs”.

On Wednesday, July 31, it was reported that a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja restricted the protesters to the MKO Abiola Stadium in the nation’s capital.

The presiding judge, Sylvanus Oriji, reportedly gave the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte application filed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

But at different locations in Abuja, especially in Utako, Jamie and Berger areas, roads usually known for traffic were deserted as protesters kicked off their protests regardless of threat by Wike ahead of the flag off.

Wike had been told that there was nothing he could do to stop the protests from taking place in Abuja and, from look of things, the protesters have made good their daring of the FCT Minister.

In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, protesters defied the rain and distractions by the police to gather and made their bold statement saying they will seek an end to bad governance in Nigeria.

They said their infuriation was influenced by statement by Senate President God’swill Akpabio, wherein he described the protesters as insensitive.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who addressed the over 1,000 protesters, praised the people nature of their protest and vowed to support them in ensuring that thugs being sponsored by enemies of the state would have a difficult time achieving their aim.