CITIZENS COMPASS—There were divergent opinions concerning the planned #endbadgovernance protests slated for the month of August 2024 as some groups and individuals have stated categorically that they were not in support of the exercise while some others have thrown their weight behind it come rain, come shine.
This is just as prices of T-shirts and caps have resurfaced on various social media platforms.
According to some messages spotted by our Correspondent, the price of a T-shirt attract N6,000, a cap goes for N5,000 and both go for N11,000.
It could not be ascertained if the prices would be subsidised.
Amidst this, one of the groups behind the protests, Take It Back (TIB) Movement, has written the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to authorise the use of Eagles Square for protests.
The Group signed the Letter through its Director of Mobilization, Damilare Adenola.
In the letter dated July 16, 2024, he said the Group needs the venue between August 1 and 10, 2024 appealing to the Minister to provide the following; 24-hour power supply, toilet facilities, water, and security.
The statement titled, ‘Request for use of Eagle Square Abuja for #EndBadGovernance protest,’ reads, “As one of the groups organizing the forthcoming #EndBadGovernance protest, #DaysOfRage starting from August 1st to 10th, 2024, we at the Take It Back Movement write to your esteemed office to notify you of our decision to use Eagle Square as a point of convergence for patriotic Nigerians to demand better governance.
“This request entails using this national asset day and night for the duration of the historic protest. Also, note that the protest may be prolonged beyond ten days as we embark on resolving the protracted national crisis occasioned by the ruling party.
Further, your office must also ensure the provision of a 24-hour power supply, toilet facilities, water, and security for the convenience of Nigerian citizens who would be camped out at Eagle Square.”
Popular human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has notified the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Director of the Department of State Services, (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, seeking protection for the Take It Back Movemen.
In the letter dated July 26, 2024, the senior advocate identified himself as a solicitor to the Group.
The notification said that the protest would commence from August 1 to 10, 2024.
He said the rallies would be held at Eagle Square in Abuja and other public spaces in the capital cities of the 36 states and the headquarters of the 774 local government councils.
Few hours after the letter by Take It Back Movement, the FCT Police Command said it had deployed 4,200 policemen across the city.
The Command disclosed this on Friday, in a statement, saying it had deployed explosive ordnance device experts at various strategic locations.
The Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, in the statement, said it was, “aimed at ensuring public safety, protection of protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors”.
“The FCT Police Command, in anticipation of the planned nationwide protest by some human rights activists and Nigerian youths to publicly express their displeasure over hunger and hardship, has proactively deployed material and human resources at the command’s disposal across the nooks and crannies of the nation’s capital.
“The proactive deployment, which is aimed at ensuring public safety, protection of protesters, and preventing protests from being hijacked by non-state actors, is characterised by visibility policing, the deployment of explosive ordinance devices (EOD) experts and personnel at various strategic locations, raids on identified black spots, uncompleted buildings/shanties, stop and search, vehicular and foot patrol and synergy with with sister security agencies.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, on Friday, announced that the planners of the August 1–10 protests should submit their details to the commissioners of police in their respective states.
He made the announcement while addressing journalists in Abuja.
The announcement came hours after popular human rights activist, Ebun Adegboruwa notified the police and Department of State Services (DSS), requesting protection for a group known as Take It Back Movement.
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.”
In the midst Taken of this, Take It Back (TIB) Movement has alerted members of the public that, “It has now come to our attention that @UBAGroup has frozen our account on the instructions of the DSS over our involvement in the forthcoming protest. We describe this action as lawless, and demand our account be unfrozen immediately within the next 24hours, without which a legal action will be instituted against @UBAGroup.”
Calls to the cell phone of UBA Spokesperson Nasir Ramon, were left unattended to.
Also on Friday, some concerned Nigerians have bombarded social media platforms with their demands captioned, “NATIONAL PROTEST AGAINST HUNGER IN NIGERIA.August 1st -10th.”
OUR DEMANDS!
1)FG SHOULD REDUCE FUEL PUMP PRICE TO #200 AND DIESEL TO #400 PER LITRE!
2) REDUCE GAS PRICE TO #300 PER KG!
3)REFINE OUR CRUDE OIL USING THE FOUR REFINERIES IN NIGERIA(PUT THEM TO WORK)!
4)OPEN ALL BOARDERS FOR FREE MARKET ECONOMY!
5)FISH OUT THE BIG SPONSORS OF INSECURITY IN NIGERIA AND TERMINATE THEIR EVIL OPERATIONS!
6)REDUCE PRESENT SCHOOL FEES IN ALL SECONDARY AND TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA BY 70%-
7) SUBSIDISE BILLS IN ALL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN NIGERIA!.
8) PAY ALL NIGERIAN GRADUATES THE MINIMUM WAGE UNTIL THEY ARE EMPLOYED,THIS IDEA WILL ALLEVIATE CRIME!
9) FG SHOULD MAKE IT A LAW FOR ALL POLITICAL PARTIES NOMINATION FORMS TO BE FREE. THIS WILL ENABLE THE YOUNGER CITIZENS TO HAVE ACCESS TO LEADERSHIP POSITIONS TOO!
10) IMPLEMENT THE 2014 NATIONAL CONFAB AS UNANIMOUSLY AGREED UPON!
11) ALL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS’ SALARIES TO BE REDUCED BY 70%!
12) ALL PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS MUST HAVE THEIR KIDS SCHOOLING IN NIGERIAN INSTITUTIONS, NOT ABROAD!
13) LIGHT BILLS TARIFF SHOULD BE BROUGHT DOWN LOW FOR ALL CITIZENS TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT’S PAYMENT.
TAKE NOTE—SOME LEADERS SAID ,THEY DON’T KNOW THE DEMANDS AND THE REASONS FOR THE NATIONAL PROTEST.
NIGERIAN CITIZENS AND THE ENTIRE MASSES HAVE SPOKEN FOR GOVERNMENT TO KNOW ABOUT OUR PAINS!
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
—CONCERNED NIGERIANS.
