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The organisers of the ‘End Hunger’ protest in Lagos have announced plans to resume the demonstration at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, today, Monday, August 5, 2024, regardless of the presidential broadcast.
In a statement released on Sunday, August 4, and signed by Hassan Taiwo, Ayoyinka Oni and Adegboyega Adeniji on behalf of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria organizing committee, the group expressed disappointment that President Tinubu took three days of protests to address the nation.
President Tinubu delivered a nationally broadcast speech on Sunday in which he acknowledged the protesters’ concerns and urged them to call off demonstrations in favor of dialogue.
“We consider the President’s decision to address the nation a major victory for our movement,” organizers said.
Without our courage and determination to defy the odds, this recognition would not have happened. So far, we have shown that a President is not greater than the rest of the country,” the protest group said in a statement.
The group criticized the president for what they described as a two-pronged approach: offering dialogue while calling for an end to the protests. They also condemned recent violence against protesters, including attacks by hooligans during a Sunday morning worship service and an incident in which a protester was shot on live television.
“In our opinion, the president cannot approve and re-approve at the same time. The president cannot offer an olive branch while at the same time holding a knife to our throats,” the trio said.
The organizers then called on Nigerian youth and the general public to join them on Monday at 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 idle” as they face repression.
