Civil society organisations protest insecurity, bad governanceAbimbola Abatta, Osogbo
Civil society organisations in Osun State on Monday, stormed major streets of Osogbo to protest against insecurity and bad governance in Nigeria.
The protest, according to the Convener, Waheed Lawal, was aimed at sensitising residents of the state to always stand against injustice and maladministration rather than dying in silence.
The protesters who were armed with banners and placards of varying inscriptions amid anti-government songs to drive home their agitations, shared leaflets to passersby and called on residents to “wake up and demand their rights from governments.”
Some of the inscriptions read, “National Day of Action Against Insecurity In Nigeria,” “We Demand Uninterrupted Power Supply, National Security,” “Stop anti-people policies,” “Make government refineries work, “End Banditry,” “We Say No to fuel Price Hike,” “End insurgency and Kidnapping now,” “We say no to high cost of living,” “Let the youth lead” among others.
The protesters, mostly youths, took off from the popular Freedom Park at Old Garage and marched through Station Road where they addressed shop owners and passersby around Fagbewesa junction on the need to join the advocacy for better Nigeria.
While addressing residents of the state, including motorists and traders, Comarde Waheed Saka said despite the human and natural resources the country was endowed with, poor leadership had put the country in the wrong direction, leading to untold hardship among the masses.
They asked the Federal and State governments to start paying members of the National and State Assemblies N30,000 minimum wage instead of the bogus salaries and allowances they receive.
Another protester identified as Lanre, while addressing residents, said, “Things are getting worse in Nigeria. The Police can’t protect us anymore. We are sending Governor Gboyega Oyetola to his boss in Abuja to find lasting solutions to the challenges confronting Nigeria.
“We want to sensitise members of the public and tell them that this government has failed us. It is government’s right to protect Nigerians. That’s their first duty.
“We want all legislators, both Federal and State, to start receiving the N30,000 minimum wage instead of the bogus salaries and allowances they get. They are part of Nigeria’s problems,” the protester said.
