Organizers of the just concluded #EndBadGovernance protests that recently crippled economic activities nationwide are currently planning to stage more demonstrations across the nation in October.
A former presidential candidate of the African Action
Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore confirmed the plan on Saturday.
Recall that Nigerian youths had staged nationwide protests
from August 1 to 10 over the prevailing economic situation in the country.
The supposed 10 days peaceful demonstration was, however,
hijacked by non-state actors, leading to the unfortunate death of some
protesters.
According to reports, 17 persons were reportedly killed in
Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna and Jigawa, while several others were
seriously injured after the Nigerian security forces clamped down on the
protesters.
No fewer than 1,135 persons were arrested across the country
following the violence that erupted during the protest.
In Kano State, hoodlums disguised as protesters reportedly
vandalized government assets, including essential documents and looted
properties belonging to individuals.
Some of them were also caught flying Russian flags while
clamoring for military rule in Nigeria.
In Kano alone, about 873 suspects were arrested by the
police and other security agencies.
No fewer than 76 of them, including a foreigner, arrested
for flying the Russian flags, were on Monday last week, transferred to the
Force Headquarters, Abuja for discreet investigation on charges of sedition.
When contacted on Saturday, an activist lawyer, Deji
Adeyanju said they were currently working towards securing the release of some
of the protesters.
Asked to disclose the fate of the detained protesters, the
popular activist simply said, “we are currently on their matter”.
However, Sowore confirmed that some of the protesters have
been released, while efforts were ongoing to secure the freedom of others.
He said, “We are working to get all detained persons
released and have, in fact, succeeded in getting some released.
“To this, we owe some gratitude to several human rights
attorneys who have dedicated their time and resources to ensure these latest
victims of rights abuses are released from unjust detention.
“The federal govt would soon face an ultimatum to release
all arrested protesters if they continue to be reckless and intransigent.”
Planned October protest
The protest scheduled for October may not be unconnected to
what they described as President Bola Tinubu’s alleged failure to address the
demands of the protesters.
The #EndBadGovernance protesters, who were majorly asking
the FG to reverse some policies that led to the high cost of living, including
the controversial fuel subsidy, made at least 15 demands.
Among other things, the protesters asked the government to
“Toss the Senate arm, keep the House of Representatives and make lawmaking a
part-time endeavour.
“Pay Nigerian workers a minimum wage of nothing less than
N250,000 monthly.
“Release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally and demilitarize
the South East. All ENDSARS and political detainees must also be released and
compensated.
“End banditry, terrorism and violent crimes. Reform security
agencies to stop continuous human rights violations.
“Massive shake-ups in the Nigerian judiciary to remove
cabals of corrupt generations of judges and judicial officers that continue
denying citizens access to real justice.
“Diaspora voting”.
But according to the organizers, President Tinubu, who
addressed the nation on the 6th day of the protest, failed to address the
demands.
This has compelled the Nigerian youths to stage more
protests.
Sowore disclosed that unlike the August protest, the planned
October demonstration tagged #FearlessInOctober would be prolonged.
On the rumoured ongoing dialogue with the FG, Sowore said,
“I am not part of any negotiations. We are all working on our next set of
prolonged protests tagged #fearlessinOctober”.
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