Protesters vow to mark 5th anniversary on Monday

…Popular activist ‘abducted’

CITIZENS COMPASS—#RevolutionNow protesters have vowed to storm Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday, August 5, 2024, to commemorate its 5th anniversary.

A flier to that effect which has since gone viral was spotted by Citizens Compass in the late hours of Sunday.

The Movement said the protest would be held at Freedom Park in Osogbo, Osun State.

It reads, “TODAY, AUGUST 5th being the 5th anniversary of our movement, REVOLUTION Now: FESTIVAL OF THE OPPRESSED will be taking place at Freedom Park, Osogbo during the #EndBadGovernance Protest.

Check the flier for more information
#RevolutionNow
#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria
#DaysOfRage

Meanwhile, some of the organisers of the #EndBadGovernanceinNigeria have said that the protests would continue in Lagos State.

They disclosed this on Sunday shortly after the nationwide broadcast by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that the protesters should come for dialogue and halt the protests.

In a statement signed by Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Ayoyinka Oni, and Oloye Adegboyega Adeniji (For and on behalf of the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organizing Committee, Gani Faweninmi Park, Ojota, Lagos State), the protesters said the broadcast by President Tinubu did not address their demands.

It reads, “(Please note that this is a preliminary statement. A more comprehensive response will come by way of a world press conference tomorrow).”

It was titled, “Re – President Tinubu’s broadcast on ongoing #endbadgovernance protest.”

The protesters claimed that some “sponsored thugs” attacked their members while observing Sunday service in Ojota.

It reads, “We have listened with rapt attention to President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast earlier today Sunday 4 August 2024, on the ongoing protest by the Nigerian youth and people over the condition of hunger and hardship in the country.

“We consider it rather unfortunate that it took President Tinubu three days of protest during which over 40 Nigerian people were massacred and several others injured across the country by security operatives and state-sponsored thugs before he realized the need to address the country.

“Nevertheless, we consider the decision to address the nation an important victory for our movement. Without our courage and resolve to dare the odds, even this acknowledgment would not have happened. So far, we have demonstrated that a President is not greater than the rest of the country. We have also demonstrated that Nigerians are not slaves who would be told to surrender their fundamental and democratic rights to resist anti-poor policies.

“However while taking note of President Tinubu’s offer of dialogue, we are concerned that in the same breadth, the President has also ordered that our protest be suspended. 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.

“Indeed, by using his broadcast to call for suspension of the protest, we are worried that President Tinubu has willy-nilly signaled the police, the army, and of course the so-called hoodlums to drown our movement in blood just like EndSARS four years ago. This played out earlier today at Gani Fawehinmi Park Ojota, Lagos where thugs attacked protesters who had gathered for Sunday morning worship thereby injuring many. We have on record the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Okafor, telling injured protesters the thugs were justified to have attacked them because they had no right to be there since the President had ordered the suspension of protest.

“Therefore, before we consider any offer of dialogue, the President needs to clarify if he wants to dialogue with us as slaves or as free. The choice he makes will determine the future of this struggle. The President has largely ignored the demands of the protesters, a deliberate arrogance that makes a well-intentioned dialogue difficult or impossible.

“We hereby urge all our allies, especially the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the media, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) not to watch with arm folded as President Tinubu uses state terror to chase us out of the streets instead of addressing our demands. As far as we are concerned, the #EndBadGovernance protest emerged from the suffering and frustration of ordinary Nigerian youth and people. Therefore, only the mass of the people can make decisions on their struggle including whether to suspend it or not. Our rights to freedom of assembly and speech which a peaceful protest means are inalienable and fundamental. So, we believe we have a right to converge after the President’s broadcast to discuss and democratically agree on what to do.

“So we therefore call on all Nigerian youth and mass of the people to join us by 7 am at Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota, Lagos tomorrow Monday 5 August 2024 which is Day 5 of the protest. Tomorrow’s convergence will start with a congress where the President’s broadcast will be discussed and an agreement reached on how to respond. Then immediately after the congress, a world press conference will take place at the same venue to address the world about the decisions we have reached.

“We are by this statement notifying the Commissioner of Police in Lagos state to ask his men and women not to harass and repress protesters in Lagos and across the country. We are also by this statement notifying ladies and gentlemen of the media to assemble by 7 am at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, Ojota, Lagos for the world press conference.”

A flier announcing the continuation of the protests was accompanied by some words, “Arrest and intimidation will not cow us. No one should believe the lies. The #EndBadGovernanceProtest protest is alive. It has neither been suspended nor called off. All roads lead to Ojota by 7 am today. We shall never submit our right to freedom of assembly.”

Similarly, the #RevolutionNow Movement has announced the alleged abduction of a popular activist, Adaramoye Michael (Michael Lenin) in the wee hours of Sunday in Abuja.

The Movement on its Instagram page claimed that the activist was “abducted” at about 2 a.m. on Sunday.

Until his arrest, Lenin was the National Coordinator of the Youth Rights Campaign and one of the organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests in Abuja.

At press time, DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunaya was yet to respond to enquiries by Citizens Compass.

In a statement, the protesters have also announced plans to occupy Delta State on Monday.

In its Situation Room, the #EndBadGovernance Protest called in their members to converge on Effurun Roundabout, Enerhen Junction, PTI Junction in Uvwie Local Government Area, Otovwodo Junction at Ughelli, Sapele, Agbor, and Summit Junction in Asaba, the State capital.

They however called for a peaceful assembly.

They disclosed this in a statement titled, “Day 5 of #EndBadGovernance Protest: Situation Room Urges Peaceful Assembly.”

It was signed by Comrade Awipi Teduolo, Spokesperson, Situation Room.

“The Situation Room of the #EndBadGovernance Protest in Delta State is calling on all protesters to assemble peacefully at designated locations across the state for Day 5 of the protest. Protesters are urged to gather at Effurun Roundabout, Enerhen Junction, PTI Junction in Uvwie Local Government Area, Otovwodo Junction at Ughelli, Sapele, Agbor, and Summit Junction at Asaba.

“The Situation Room emphasizes the importance of peaceful and non-violent protest, encouraging protesters to carry Nigerian flags and placards with clear messages. Protesters are also reminded to arrive at designated locations by 8 am and be respectful and courteous to security personnel and passersby.

“To ensure a safe and successful protest, the Situation Room cautions protesters to avoid confrontations with security personnel, refrain from destroying public property, and stay hydrated and bring snacks. Arrangements have been made for medical teams to provide assistance, water, and snacks to be provided, and for protesters to look out for one another.

“The demands of the protesters remain unchanged, calling for good governance, accountability, transparency, an end to economic hardship, and an end to insecurity. The Situation Room urges protesters to continue to unite and make their voices heard, stressing that together, they can bring about radical change and hold leaders accountable for their actions.