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 to DAILY POST on Saturday.
DAILY POST recalls 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 by DAILY POST 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 to DAILY POST 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.
DAILY POST reports that 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 told DAILY POST 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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