Hundreds of residents in Osogbo, Osun State, have taken to the streets to protest against the biting economic hardship and rising insecurity in the country.
This comes just hours after the police urged residents to shelve the planned demonstration over concerns of violence.
Protesters, however, defied the call and took to the streets with banners and placards, chanting anti-government slogans.
The march kicked off at the Old Garage area, through Freedom Park, Orisunbare, Ola-Iya, Alekuwodo, and culminated in the Oke-Fia district. The peaceful procession was monitored by the Nigerian Police Force.
The leader of the protesters, Comrade Waheed Lawal, said the policies of the current government are anti-people and not aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the masses.
He said, “They must do whatever they need to do to make sure that the people benefit from the reforms. 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 because, with the state of insecurity in the country, you can’t travel from Osogbo to Ibadan with your mind at rest, you will be thinking you may be kidnapped.
“Kidnapping of Monarchs is the order of the day in our country now. We urge the government to provide security for lives and property. 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 on this hardship. We have started this struggle today and if government fails to listen to us, we will continue to mobilise our people to refuse this hardship because enough is enough.”
Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!