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Tag: Nationwide Protest

  • Take-It-Back movement defies police warning, hold protests nationwide

    Take-It-Back movement defies police warning, hold protests nationwide

    Protesters, under the aegis of the Take-It-Back Movement, defied police warnings on Monday, staging protests in major cities such as Abuja, Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) understands that the protesters had gathered to voice their concerns on various national issues, including economic hardship and the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

    In the photos/videos that surfaced on social media, the demonstrators donned their signature orange berets as they yelled solidarity songs whilst holding placards and banners.

    In Lagos, the protesters gathered at the Ikeja Under Bridge before marching through major roads in the state capital under the watchful eyes of police officers stationed throughout the area.

    The protest also spread to Oyo State, Rivers State, and the heart of the Federal Capital Territory, where protesters were seen holding placards bearing messages such as “Stop the Repression” and “Let Us Breathe.”

    Despite earlier warnings from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), which urged the movement to cancel the nationwide protest, the demonstrators continued their march, undeterred.

    The NPF had described the protest as “ill-conceived and mischievous,” claiming that it was an attempt to undermine the National Police Day celebrations.

    In response to the police’s warnings, activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore, who has been a leading figure in the movement, rejected the claims that the protest was meant to disrupt the Police Day celebrations.

    Sowore emphasized that the protest was centred around issues such as the current state of the Nigerian economy and the state of emergency declared in Rivers State.

    “The government has consistently failed to address the real issues affecting ordinary Nigerians. “This protest is about giving voice to the people’s suffering, and any threats will not silence us,” Sowore stated.

    The Take-It-Back Movement has been known for organizing protests and voicing concerns over various issues, including the state of the Nigerian economy, government corruption, and most recently, the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

  • Just in: Guber candidate, others nabbed in Ondo over nationwide protests

    Just in: Guber candidate, others nabbed in Ondo over nationwide protests

    In a disturbing development, the Nigeria Police Force has arrested Kunle Wizeman Ajayi, the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate for Ondo State, and Patrick Owolabi, a member of the Take It Back (TIB) Movement.

    The arrests occurred in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during the 10th day of a nationwide protest against hunger, hardship, and what protesters describe as bad governance under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

    Ajayi and Owolabi were participating in the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest, which has seen Nigerians across the country expressing their dissatisfaction with the current economic conditions and governance through peaceful demonstrations.

    The protest, which started as a nationwide hunger protest, has entered its 10th day, with citizens demanding urgent reforms. The TIB leadership has condemned the arrests, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of both Ajayi and Owolabi. In a statement on social media platform X, the group criticized the police’s actions, calling them “unfortunate and shameful.”

    The TIB’s post read, “It’s unfortunate that the @PoliceNG is yet to learn. The continued clampdown on peaceful #EndBadGovernceInNigeria protesters is a total shame. We condemn the unlawful arrest of Ajayi Wizeman & Patrick Owolabi in Ondo State and we demand their immediate and unconditional release!” Earlier reports indicated that Ondo State residents took to the streets on Saturday for a one-million-man march, marking the 10th day of the protests. The demonstrators carried banners and placards with messages such as “#We are hungry. End Bad Governance in Nigeria,” reflecting the deepening frustration among citizens. . The protest, initially peaceful, has turned violent in various parts of the country, including the Nigerian capital, due to the heavy-handed response from police and other security agencies. Journalists and media professionals covering the events have also been targeted in the crackdown. As tensions continue to rise, the demand for accountability and better governance remains at the forefront of the protests.

  • Nationwide Demonstration: Respect Protesters’ right, Amnesty International warns Nigerian Government

    Nationwide Demonstration: Respect Protesters’ right, Amnesty International warns Nigerian Government

    Amnesty International has called on Nigerian authorities to respect the rights of demonstrators amid an upcoming national protest against hardship. In a statement on Wednesday, Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, urged the government and security agencies to allow peaceful protests.

     

    “The Nigerian authorities must ensure that security agencies respect and facilitate the right to peaceful protest, as guaranteed by both the country’s constitution and international human rights treaties, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Nigeria is a state party. Government officials must also refrain from rhetoric that demonizes protesters and stifles peaceful dissent,” he stated.

     

    Sanusi emphasized that the authorities should not use the proposed nationwide protests as an excuse to crack down on human rights, particularly the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. “People must be allowed to freely exercise their right to peaceful protest. The arrests of at least three people last week for allegedly supporting the protests on social media show the authorities’ intolerance of peaceful dissent.”

     

    Highlighting the impact of rising food prices, he noted, “The escalating price of food is driving millions of people in Nigeria deeper into poverty while countless families are increasingly unable to afford healthcare and education. The Nigerian authorities must seriously address the underlying issues driving the protests instead of increasing repression and stifling peaceful dissent.”

     

    Sanusi concluded by calling on the authorities to uphold Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights obligations, allowing people to freely exercise their rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.

  • Nationwide Protest: Organizer’s lawyer recommends One-Day demonstration for safety

    Nationwide Protest: Organizer’s lawyer recommends One-Day demonstration for safety

    Senior lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, representing some organizers of the planned hardship protest, has appealed to the protesters to limit the duration of their demonstration to one day or a maximum of three days.

     

    The #EndBadGovernance protests, which have gained significant traction on social media, are scheduled to take place from August 1 to 10.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Adegboruwa urged the protesters to remain orderly and peaceful as they take to the streets on Thursday in locations previously communicated to the police.

     

    “In the past few days, we have facilitated dialogue with law enforcement and security agencies. The Inspector-General of Police’s insistence on ‘credible intelligence’ of planned violence confirms the government’s desperation to thwart the protests by sponsoring hooligans and thugs to disrupt them, which is currently happening in many parts of Lagos State,” Adegboruwa stated.

     

    He continued, “I appeal for the protests to be orderly and peaceful and to take place in the locations already communicated to the police. Additionally, reduce the duration of the protests to one day or a maximum of three days, and then suspend them. Make your demands known to the government and allow time for them to be addressed. I am confident in your capacity to conduct the protests as intended, with the support and prayers of the majority of our people. However, let us allow for more dialogue. I offer to join you in this effort anytime.

     

    “I make this appeal in the interest of peace, progress, and tranquillity for our dear nation,” he added.

     

    Adegboruwa also warned security agencies against using bullets, making arbitrary arrests, and deploying the military. “The law recognizes the right to peaceful protests while mandating the police to protect unarmed civilians during their demonstrations. Let no single bullet be fired tomorrow, let there be no arbitrary and unlawful arrests of citizens, and let there be no deployment of the military to handle engagements. The protesters are our children and citizens. They do not deserve bullets and crackdowns.”

     

    Adegboruwa further advised President Bola Tinubu and his team to immediately reverse the policies of oil subsidy removal and currency devaluation. He argued that these policies have crippled the economy and plunged Nigeria into its worst economic crisis. He also emphasized the need for the President to end government wastefulness stemming from lavish lifestyles of functionaries.

     

    “How can the President buy a new jet, and the Vice-President renovate his house with N21B, while the people are expected to suffer? How do you expand your wealth and luxuries and then preach to the people to tighten their belts? President Tinubu must end all forms of bad governance, such as spending billions on religious pilgrimages while offering pittance to students as loans,” he questioned.

  • Nationwide Protests: Ondo Youth group withdraws amid security concerns

    Nationwide Protests: Ondo Youth group withdraws amid security concerns

    A youth group, one of the organizers of EndBadGovernanceinNigeria, Concerned Revolutionary Youths, has withdrawn from the planned nationwide protest in Ondo State.

     

    In a statement to the press in Akure, the state capital, the group’s leader in Ondo State, Ogundipe Seyi Olaniyi, cited security concerns indicating that the protest could become disruptive and violent.

     

    Ogundipe explained that the decision to withdraw was made after a careful evaluation of the situation and interventions by prominent state indigenes. The group has informed its counterparts nationwide of its decision to withdraw and continue dialogue with the government on pressing issues.

     

    The group has also notified security agencies and relevant authorities of its intent not to participate in the planned protest. Ogundipe emphasized that the decision was not due to financial inducement or intimidation but was influenced by interventions and security reports suggesting that some groups might hijack the protest to settle ethnic scores.

     

    Ogundipe noted that the protest had already achieved its objectives, with President Ahmed Tinubu starting to address the demands of the organizers. He mentioned that the President had taken proactive measures to address many issues raised, aiming to improve the situation for Nigerians.

     

    “The Deji of Akure and the Amotekun Corps Commandant, Akogun Tunji Adeleye, engaged with us, leading to our decision to halt the protest and continue engaging with the government,” Ogundipe stated. “We are not being bankrolled or given money; we believe in good governance.”

     

    He added, “We are protesting because of the hardship in society, and it is clear that we face many deplorable conditions. Youths across the 36 states of Nigeria, including the FCT, planned to show our grievances.”

  • Safety First: IPC advises journalists covering nationwide protest

    Safety First: IPC advises journalists covering nationwide protest

    Journalists and other media professionals covering the nationwide protest starting August 1 have been urged to take necessary safety precautions to avoid attacks.

    The International Press Centre (IPC) issued this advice on Wednesday through a statement, highlighting the need for caution due to past incidents where journalists were assaulted while performing their duties. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director of IPC, emphasized the importance of media practitioners prioritizing their safety throughout the protest.

    “We urge all journalists and media practitioners covering the nationwide protests to adopt and implement safety measures while conducting their work professionally,” Arogundade stated. He also called on security agencies to perform their duties in a civil and responsible manner.

    “The security forces should recognize the media’s critical role in disseminating information and allow them to perform their duties professionally. The media should be seen as partners in progress, not adversaries,” he added.

    The IPC also urged the public, including protesters, to support and protect journalists as they report on the protests.

  • Nationwide protest: Senate pleads for more time for FG’s reforms to take shape

    Nationwide protest: Senate pleads for more time for FG’s reforms to take shape

    The Senate has begged protesters to grant the Federal Government more time for the ongoing reforms to yield the desired results and meet their demands.

    The plea came after the Senate reconvened from its closed-door session which lasted for less than two hours on Wednesday.

    President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio stated that the government has started to meet the demands of the protesters including minimum wage, student loans, and sales of crude oil refineries.

    He maintained that the Senate is willing to legislate on all matters that will bring succour to Nigerians.

  • Just In: IGP finally endorses nationwide protests with a condition

    Just In: IGP finally endorses nationwide protests with a condition

     

    The Nigerian police has finally approved the planned nationwide protests and outlined conditions for participants.

    The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, revealed this on Friday while addressing journalists in Abuja.

    He urged all groups planning to participate in the proposed nationwide protest to submit their details to the Commissioners of Police in their respective states.

    The police boss said this was to ensure the protest was peaceful.

    Egbetokun said, “We acknowledge the constitutional right of Nigerian citizens to peaceful assembly and protest.

    “However, in the interest of public safety and order, we urge all groups planning to protest to provide necessary details to the Commissioner of Police in the state where the protest is intended to take place.

    “To facilitate a successful and incident-free protest, they should please provide the following information: state the proposed protest routes and assembly points; expected duration of the protest; and names and contact details of protest leaders and organisers.”

    The police boss said the information expected from the organisers also include measures to prevent hijacking by criminal elements, as well as key identifiers for possible isolation of potential troublemakers.

    By providing the information, he said, the police will be able to deploy adequate personnel and resources to ensure public safety.

    He said the police needed to know the specific routes and areas for the protest to avoid conflicts with other events or activities.

    Mr Egbetokun said the police will “establish clear communication channels with protest leaders to address any concerns or issues that may arise; minimise the risk of violence, property damage, or other criminal activity.

    “We encourage all protesters to cooperate with the police, obey the law, and adhere to global best practices for peaceful assembly to guarantee a safe and successful exercise of their rights.

  • NYSC gives stern warning to members not to participate in nationwide protest

    NYSC gives stern warning to members not to participate in nationwide protest

    Disturbed by the forthcoming protest, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has warned serving corps member against participating in the planned nationwide protest slated to commence on August 1, 2024.

    The NYSC management reportedly issued the warning to corps members, circulated on various social media platforms, reminding them that they are prohibited from participating in any political activities.

    According to the statement, this restriction is based on the laws governing the NYSC scheme, which explicitly bar corps members from engaging in political movements.

    The statement reads in part: “Nationwide protest circulating in the media space is scheduled to commence on Thursday, August 1st, 2024. I want to remind you that, as Corps Members, you are prohibited by law from participating in any form of protest or demonstration.

    “Section 14 of the NYSC Act clearly states that Corps Members shall not participate in any political or religious activities, including protests and demonstrations.”

    TNG had reported how Nigerians have started mobilising themselves in thousands to hold a public demonstration across the country, tagged as ‘EndBadGovernance’.

    This protest aims to express their displeasure over the hardships President Bola Tinubu’s administration has created.

    In a video trending online on Friday, a concerned youth uses a sound amplifier to enlighten people and traders inside the popular Gaya market in Kano State on the need for them to massively join the planned nationwide protest.

    He told Kano residents that this is the best opportunity for them to stand against agelong bad governance in Nigeria, adding that they should not be intimidated by what the ruling class may have said about the protest.

     

    When contacted for comments, NYSC Director of Public Relations, Dr. Eddy Megwa, said he could not talk at that time.

  • We need to unite – DJ Switch sends strong message to Nigerians ahead of nationwide protest

    We need to unite – DJ Switch sends strong message to Nigerians ahead of nationwide protest

    Obianuju Catherine Udeh, known by her stage name – DJ Switch, has urged Nigerians, particularly youths, to unite ahead of a planned nationwide protest.

    The female DJ cum activist in a lenghty post via X.com on Thursday asked the youths to fight tribal and religious discord “planted by the political class” to dampen the planned protest.

    Catherine argued that until the citizens decide to save their country, the political class will continue to mismanage the economy of the country.

    The songs-sound-maker explained that she wanted to remain silent on the planned protest, but her passion for Nigeria could not allow her.

    She said, “They say that there is a time for everything. A time to sleep, play, work, fight or die! Africa as a whole needs to know what fucking time it is!

    “If you recognize what time it is, then you know what to do! Mind you, the cabals running Nigeria, Nigeria especially are smarter than you all might think. While they may be on edge about this planned protest, especially after seeing the events in Kenya, I promise you that they can bet their left balls that nothing will happen,” she said.

    She added that some politicians supporting the protest were only doing it for record purposes and to deceive the youths.

    “Many have been advised to ‘show’ support for our fundamental human right to freedom of expression for two reasons: So that there is a record of them supporting it and; to guide you all like babies to do your protest and go and sleep.

    “So, the question really is this, do you know what time it is? Because if you don’t, just kukuma go and sleep and If you do, then prepare to take the bull by the horn.

    “You need to understand that whether you japa or stay, they don’t care! Nigeria is a mining ground for these devils. They take and take with no single thought or care as to where the nation ends up… wasteland!” DJ Switch added.

    She urged Nigerians not to allow ethnic division devised by the political class to dampen their resolve for the planned August protest.

    “The tribal division they’ve sown amongst us was a desperate move on their broken chessboard. I don’t care what tribe you are from or religion you belong to, we need to unite if we want actual change,” she advised.