The organizers of the #EndBadgovernance protest on Monday once again gathered for a peaceful demonstration at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park, located in Ojota, Lagos State. This resumption of the protest comes in spite of the call made by President Bola Tinubu for them to suspend any further demonstrations.
Earlier, in a broadcast on Sunday, Tinubu acknowledged the concerns raised by the protesters and strongly urged them to halt any more demonstrations, advocating for dialogue instead. His appeal was aimed at calming the growing unrest and fostering a more constructive conversation regarding the issues being raised by the citizens.
However, the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria Organising Committee expressed their disappointment in a statement made by Hassan Taiwo, Ayoyinka Oni, and Adegboyega Adeniji, indicating that it took President Tinubu three whole days of continued protests before he chose to address the nation regarding their grievances. They described this delay as significant and stated, “We consider the President’s decision to address the nation an important victory for our movement.”
The committee further reflected on the power of the protests, claiming, “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.” This assertion speaks to their view of the balance of power between the citizens and the government.
Furthermore, the group criticized what they termed a “dual approach” from the President; while he offered to engage in dialogue, he simultaneously demanded an end to the protests. They condemned the recent violence directed toward protesters, which included alarming incidents such as attacks by thugs during a Sunday morning worship session, as well as a shocking event where a protester was struck on camera during live broadcasting.
The statement from the trio continued with a strong message highlighting their discomfort with the situation: “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.” This powerful metaphor illustrates their perception of the contradiction in the President’s approach.
Moreover, they called on critical organizations such as the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, the media, and the Nigerian Bar Association to lend their support to their cause. They emphasized the importance of solidarity and urged these groups not to “stand idly by” while facing the threats of suppression and violence.
On Monday, the protesters regrouped at Gani Fawehinmi Freedom Park to continue their demonstration, which they allege was marred by infiltrations from hoodlums. There were accusations from some protesters that the government had planted moles and miscreants among them to provoke attacks and create divisions within their ranks.
One participant, Tope Aloba, shared his experience, claiming, “We would not be deterred by whatever means government may be deploying to silence us. See my lips, (pointing to his lips), I was attacked by miscreants in our midst this morning, but I remain undaunted. I know they were sponsored by government,” underscoring the fierce determination among the protesters.
In his address to the crowd of demonstrators at Ojota, Taiwo inspired the Nigerian youth and the general public to participate en masse, urging them to join the demonstration until their voices are unequivocally heard by those in power.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State government had previously described the protest as generally peaceful; however, recent footage has revealed some clashes between the protesters and hoodlums that created tensions. Despite this, it has been reported that no casualties have occurred so far in the state, which is a relief to many.
Additionally, some of the protesters who were arrested earlier during the Lagos demonstrations have since been released, which has sparked further discussions about civil liberties and the right to protest. The organizers of the protest have remained steadfast in their assertion that these demonstrations reflect the deep-seated frustrations of ordinary Nigerians, and they continue to advocate tirelessly for meaningful governance reform.
On Monday, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presided over an Executive Council Meeting, signaling a return to full government activities in the state following four days of hunger protests across the country. Sanwo-Olu also commended the organizers of the protest in Lagos for their decision to call off the demonstrations after the President’s broadcast, acknowledging the importance of their efforts.
While addressing journalists at the Lagos House in Ikeja, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, stated emphatically, “There is peace in Lagos State as workers have fully resumed work.” He went on to assure the public, “All is well in Lagos. Lagos is peaceful and that is what Lagosians want. Mr. Governor has resumed the business of the state. Everyone is at his desk and members of the public are coming in to do business with the government.”
Omotoso reiterated the importance of stability in Lagos, the commercial center of Nigeria, emphasizing that citizens would not allow chaos to disrupt their lives. He expressed gratitude to those who participated in the protests, stating that they have done a commendable service to Lagos. The call for peace was reinforced, with encouragement for all Lagosians to continue their daily activities without any fear of disruption.
Furthermore, he mentioned that less than 24 hours after the state government released three hotline numbers for citizens to call in, the state had already received thousands of calls from concerned individuals and communities eager to engage in dialogue with the government. This engagement illustrates a willingness from the populace to participate in constructive discussions about the future of governance in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole.
