Activists representing various organizations including the Joint Action Force, Coalition for Revolution, Osun Civil Society Coalition, and the Federation of Informal Workers in Osun State, along with concerned youths, staged a peaceful demonstration on Monday in Osogbo, the capital city of Osun State.
The protest aimed to address the escalating cost of living in the country, and to voice opposition to the government's decision to allocate proceeds from oil subsidy removal to state governors.
Mr. Waheed Saka, one of the organizers of the protest, emphasized the necessity of the demonstration to lay the groundwork for a larger movement against the economic challenges facing Nigeria.
The protesters convened at Freedom Park before marching through the streets and gathering beneath Olaiya Bridge to address the media.
Despite a significant presence of armed police officers and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps operatives at the protest site, the demonstrators peacefully expressed their grievances, highlighting the hardships faced by Nigerians through songs and speeches.
Saka reiterated concerns that the current economic hardships could escalate into larger crises if left unchecked, criticizing governors for their past mismanagement of resources.
He emphasized the need for the government to fulfill its promises and questioned the rationale behind diverting subsidy funds to state governors, given their historical inefficiency in resource management.
The protesters called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning against worsening the plight of ordinary Nigerians. They emphasized the importance of domestic policies over external influences from institutions like the IMF and World Bank, arguing for the preservation of subsidies to alleviate the burden on citizens.
The demonstration, they emphasized, reflected a broader concern shared by all Nigerians, transcending labor movement boundaries.
