CITIZENS COMPASS—There appeared to be divisions among the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protesters in Nigeria as some of the organisers of the protests have suspended their actions both in Lagos and Osun State.
A pointer to this was that the Freedom Park in Ojota, Lagos was deserted on Tuesday, being the Day 6 of the protests.
However, the Alausa Secretariat witnessed a handful of protesters on Day 6 despite the attacks by thugs on Monday.
It was learnt that Seun Kuti, a popular Afrobeat musician and the son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, has promised to support the protesters with food a gestured he commenced on Monday by distributing food packs to the protesters.
Seun also distributed some food packs to the protesters on Tuesday.
Some of the protesters confirmed this to our Correspondent saying that they were encouraged by Seun’s gesture.
The protests later witnessed a surprise as a section of the organisers announced the suspension of the protests following a Congress in Ojota although Citizens Compass gathered that as at 4a m on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, another section of the organisers of the protests were busy deliberating the suspension to know the next line of action.
Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, National Coordinator, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), on behalf of Joint Action Front (JAF), PRP Vanguard, and Youth Rights Campaign (YRC) announced the suspension on his social media handles.
The statement titled, endbadgovernance: daily assembly at ojota, lagos state suspended but other forms of engagement and mobilisation continue.”
He said, “We commend the bravery and determination of Nigerian youths and masses who have taken to the streets over the past five days to demand an end to bad governance and anti-people policies in Nigeria.
“Through our collective actions, we have boldly exercised our fundamental and democratic rights to peacefull assembly and procession, despite the threat of violence from state forces and state-sponsored thugs. We have also sent a clear message that the anti-poor economic policies of President Tinubu are utterly unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
“We unequivocally condemn President Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast in response to the protests, which regrettably failed to address our legitimate demands. Instead, the broadcast was filled with self-congratulatory remarks and hollow promises, further demonstrating the government’s disconnect from the people’s grievances.
“We also strongly condemn the brutal killings, arrests, and vicious attacks on peaceful protesters and journalists by security agents and state-sponsored thugs. The latest of this occurred yesterday evening as peaceful protesters at Ojota were rounding off the days activities leading to many being injured while the police watched in amusement. These violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms are utterly unacceptable, and the perpetrators must be held to account.
“However, in line with the resolutions adopted at the congress of the protesters on Monday 5 August 2024, we have decided to suspend the daily assembly at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom park at Ojota, Lagos State where we have provided coordination since the protests began. Furthermore, a Martyrs’ Day shall be held within the week to honour our fallen defenceless activists, comrades and other fellow citizen fighters for a better Nigeria who have lost their lives in the struggle across the country. The date, time and venue for this commemorative event will be announced shortly.
“Our suspension of daily assembly at Ojota is by no means an end to the ongoing struggle to end bad governance and all anti-people policies. We urge Nigerians to be steadfast in the struggle as we are committed to the building of a strong pan-Nigerian mass movement of the working masses to actualize a country of our dream. We are still in solidarity with other protesters who wish to continue street protest across the country.
“Finally, we call on the Police, DSS and other security apparatus to respect the right to protest. We also call for an end to all forms of repression including immediate release of all political prisoners presently in detention across the country.
“THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES, VICTORY IS CERTAIN!”
Following the suspension, calm has returned to the Freedom Park in Ojota as human and vehicular activities have returned to the axis after five days of the #EndBafGovetnance protest.
Citizens Compass observed that the turnout of passengers at Ojota Garage has improved compared with the previous days.
A commercial driver at the Lagos-Ilorin section of Ojota Garage, Gbogbolomo Oriade, said there was a great improvement in his daily routine at the Garage.
It was also observed that security operatives were still stationed at Ojota and it’s environs.
It was gathered that a reporter with News Central TV was harassed by hoodlums.
The TV station disclosed this on its X Handle saying, “During today’s #EndBadGovernance protest report from Ojota, our reporter @benakede and media crew faced harassment from armed street thugs who demanded they leave the area.”
However, Spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, has responded to the claim by the online TV station that the State Commissioner of Police, CP Fayoade Adegoke, has ordered investigation into this.
According to a statement signed by the Force Spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Tuesday, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has disclosed the number of the arrested persons in connection with the distribution of Russian flags in the Northern area of Nigeria.
The IGP also frowned at those clamouring for the return of Military rule in the area.
He said the Police had torchlights individual sponsors to trigger crisis in Nigeria.
“The Nigeria Police Force has issued a stern warning against the display of foreign flags during protests and calls for a military takeover, categorizing such actions as treasonable felonies under Nigerian law. This follows a wave of violent protests, particularly in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, and Katsina States, where protesters brandished foreign flags.
“Ongoing investigations reveal that protest organizers in the states mentioned above are luring innocent children into participating in these unpatriotic and criminal acts. Over ninety suspects have been arrested, including tailors who sewed the flags and their sponsors. Efforts are underway to apprehend others who sponsored the production of the flags and fuelled these treasonable acts.
“The display of foreign flags and calls for a military takeover constitutes a clear treasonable offense, revealing the motives of protest organizers to destabilize Nigeria’s democratic government. This aligns with actionable intelligence on the tactics of fifth columnists and non-state actors exploiting economic hardship protests to further their nefarious goals.
“Tensions from the ongoing protests have eased following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address on August 4, 2024. However, some groups persist in subversive campaigns in the form of violent and unlawful protests, characterized by the destruction of public infrastructure and private property, looting, display of foreign flags, and calls for a military takeover. These individuals and groups will be treated as subversive agents and charged accordingly.
“The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, has directed Deputy Inspectors General of Police for the Northwest and Northeast zones, DIGs Bala Ciroma, psc, and Bello Makwashi, to take charge of operations in the states within the two geo-political zones where subversive campaigns are ongoing under the guise of protests. They are tasked with stabilizing the situation and preventing further violence in the affected states.
“The Nigeria Police Force reiterates that the use of foreign flags during protests and openly calling for a military takeover of the government is a capital offense under Nigerian law. The Police cautions Nigerian youths to be wary of individuals and groups turning protests into business ventures, funded by local or foreign sponsors aiming to destabilize the country. Evidence shows that these sponsors have paid significant sums to exploit the hardship protests, brainwashing and misleading innocent children into aiding this campaign against the government.
“The Nigeria Police Force salutes Nigerians who have refused to participate in and indeed spoke out against the ill-timed protest out of sheer patriotism and belief in the government’s genuine efforts to put the country on the path of economic recovery and growth. We also acknowledge the patriotism of those who peacefully participated in the protests but withdrew when they turned violent, and those who heeded the President’s call to embrace dialogue by withdrawing from the protests.
“The NPF remains committed to maintaining peace, protecting the nation’s heritage, and working with the public to ensure the safety and stability of Nigeria.”
In Osun State, organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest have also announced suspension of the protest.
The coordinator of the protest, Mr Ajala Adetunji and other leaders of the protest, while addressing journalists in Osogbo after the procession, disclosed that the organisers have decided to suspend further protest to allow for peaceful celebration of the Osun-Osogbo Festival.
His words: “Furthermore, we reviewed the security situation vis-à-vis the Osun-Osogbo festival presently ongoing in Osogbo. It is worthy of note to establish that the protest is incidentally taking place in Osogbo which is of concern.
“Considering the safety of the influx of tourists coming for the global Osun-Osogbo festival and the possibility of hoodlums disguising themselves as tourists and attacking peaceful protesters amidst other security concerns, we consider it imperative to put the protest on hold on August 6, 2024.”
The Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) has demanded an unconditional and immediate release of two protestsMichael Adaramoye, Babatunde Oluajo and all others that were arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
The Group also considered the broadcast by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday as “a display of arrogance and insensitivity towards the harrowing plight and hardship of Nigerians. “
CDWR is demanding the immediate release of Michael Adaramoye aka Lenin, Babatunde Oluajo aka Sankara and all other protesters abducted, arrested and detained across the country. CDWR commiserates with the families of the injured and those whom security agents killed. We appeal to the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigerian Bar Association and other pro-masses organisations to openly condemn this ongoing repression of the protesters.
In a statement signed by Comrade Bosah Chinedu, National Publicity Secretary of the Group, it said, “CDWR at this moment demands the reversal of all anti-people policies including the reversal of petroleum prices to pre-May 2023 level; reversal of electricity tariff to pre-May 2023 rate; an end to the floating and devaluation of the Naira; an end to all neo-liberal and anti-people policies such as privatisation and deregulation of the power and oil and gas sectors; for free and quality education and healthcare; respect for democratic rights to freedom of protest and dissent etc.”
