On Friday, February 9, youths in Osun State organised a peaceful demonstration in Osogbo, the state capital, in response to widespread economic hardship.
The ‘Osun Peaceful Solidarity Walk’ protest took place beside Osogbo’s Freedom Park. Protesters claimed that the rising cost of living had made life difficult for the poor.
The protest’s coordinator, Comrade Owolabi Hassan Oluwatobi, told reporters that Nigerians are suffering as a result of the country’s current economic woes.
Comrade Waheed Lawal, Chairman of the state’s Civil Society Coalition, urged President Bola Tinubu to address the country’s economic hardships immediately.
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Lawal stated that if the federal government does not provide a solution to the state’s economic difficulty, civil society organisations will mobilise a massive demonstration.
“Government must ameliorate the suffering of the people. They must do whatever they need to do to make sure that the people live in better conditions. Nigerians deserve the best. They promised us renewed hope but what they are giving us now is renewed hardship. We reject renewed hardship in our lives, and in our economy because Nigerians deserve the best. What Nigerians want is a peaceful atmosphere. We don’t want insecurity in our land again. We can’t travel from Osogbo to Ibadan without panicking. You will be thinking that they will kidnap you.
“The abduction of monarchs is the order of the day in our country now. We urge the government to provide security for the lives and property of the citizens. It is their responsibility, it is a constitutional responsibility.
“Every government that fails to provide security for the lives of the citizens is no longer a government. What we are saying is simple, we are ready to face the government in this hardship and we are marathon runners.”
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli
