…Abuja, Lagos , Kano , Port Harcourt and others witnessed peaceful match
…South East states observed sit-at-home
By Uche Onyeali (Abuja) SAMSON ALFA (MINNA), Hassan Jirgi (Damaturu), From Nwogha Ndubuisi (Abakaliki)
Despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government appeal to Nigerians to shelve the August 1, 2024 protest, the citizens took to the streets yesterday to register their displeasure over rising economic hardship and unprecedented hunger, high inflation rate.
However, the protest unlike that of the 2020 #EndSARS that led the death of many Nigerian youths was largely adjudged peaceful by many across the country, though there were reports of looting .
In Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, the protesters trooped out enmasse to exercise their constitutional right by conveying their messages to President Bola Tinubu and his team from in the nation’s capital, though protesters marched peacefully at the city centre with security operatives monitoring the procession.
For their proactive disposition, police operatives in the territory arrested a young man clutching a knife around the National Stadium in Abuja, with protesters believing he was poised stage an attack on them.
The man, bedecked in a wine and white T-shirt, looked terrified as police quizzed him on the object.
Around him, a crowd bellowed and bayed in anger.
Similarly, patrol helicopters were spotted hovering over the venue of the protest in the Ojota area of Lagos State.
Meanwhile, the protesters refused to converge in the Freedom Park garden, instead chose occupy the service lane.
Speaking to newsmen, one of the leaders of the protest, Tunji Abayomi claimed that it was an attempt to confine them.
“Originally, this is our traditional protest ground, but we won’t allow the government to confine us inside the garden”, he said.
Another protester, Steven Adams, said he was not ready to enter the garden, citing the incident that occurred at the Lekki toll gate during the #EndSARS protest.
The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Adegoke Fayoade, had also visited the scene of the protest.
The Police boss, who arrived at about 11:25 am, was seen monitoring the activities of the protesters.
A mild drama, however, ensued when Fayoade entered the park to inspect the premises, as the protesters voiced their refusal to gather there.
He, however, left the scene of the protest a little while later.
The Gani Fawehinmi Park and Peace Park in Ojota are the designated routes approved by the court for holding protests.
The protesters, who marched from Ikeja under the bridge, arrived in Ojota around 11: am.
However, as against appeals by the federal and state governments to organisers of the protest to apply caution and ensure that those who decide to go ahead with the marches do not take to violence, AljazirahNigeria learnt that some youths exploited the protest to vandalise both public and private property in some, in summer states.
For instance , on the first day of the protest, our correspondent reports, violence erupted at the Suleja axis of the Niger State where six were killed in a clash between the police and protesters.
AljazirahNigeria learnt that trouble started when about 1000 protesters stormed the streets of Suleja with various placards.
However, the procession went out control and police operatives monitoring the situation started dispersing the protesters with teargas.
According to eyewitnesses, in the ensuing turmoil, the protesters chased the Police to their station, resulting in counter attacks with teargas by both parties who headed towards the Suleja Area Command of Suleja where the hoodlums smashed and vandalised vehicles parked in the command’s premises.
In the vein, a statement from the state Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed that the secretariat of Tafa Local Government Council was partially burnt down alongside other two cars by the hoodlums.
Abiodun added that the hoodlums looted properties at the secretariat, though the police and other security agencies responded immediately to the scene and arrested 11 miscreants with dangerous weapons, including firearms and also recover some looted properties.
The police spokesman further stated that the security agencies also responded swiftly to a blockade mounted by the miscreants along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway and at the old tollgate dispersed hoodlums.
While there were no demonstrations in Minna, the state capital, the police however quickly responded to some groups who were seen with dangerous weapons at the top Medical junction with mild tension at Kpakungu and environs.
In Yobe State, while the youths peacefully assembled and only pleaded with the federal government to restore petrol subsidy to ease the economic suffering of the people, Governor Mai Mala Buni however commended people of the state, especially the youths, for heeding calls against the protest, as the state is emerging out of a protracted security challenge.
“l am happy we are working on the same page, we clearly understand our situation, the state is just picking its pieces and we can not afford to accommodate anything including protest .In the same vein , Kano, Kaduna , Port Harcourt recorded a very large turnout ,
While some states in other regions witnessed mild processions the entire South-Eastern part of the country boycotted the protest as directed by the apex-Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
AljazirahNigeria reports that markets, stores and shops in many parts of the South-East were all opened for business yesterday.
It was gathered that commercial activities went on as usual in Nnewi and Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, despite the tension across the country.
Commending Ndigbo for their approach to the protest, Ohanaeze said President Tinubu is not an enemy of the South-East, being the reason there is no protest in states of the region.
In a statement signed by the factional secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze notes that the boycott of the protest by the people of South-East should convincingly spur President Tinubu listen to the plea of leaders of the region and other Nigerians to release the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from custody.
“We, the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, wish to express our profound gratitude to all Igbos at home and in the diaspora for their unwavering commitment to the decision to boycott the nationwide protests.
“The South-East region has shown a remarkable unity and resilience in standing against external pressures and manipulations aimed at using Igbo as sacrificial lambs for selfish political agendas.
“In conclusion, we urge all Ndigbo to remain steadfast and resolute in the face of any pressures or attempts to undermine our unity and progress. Let us continue to stand together in solidarity and work towards a brighter future for our people and our nation,” the statement said.
For its part, the Ebonyi State government applauded residents of the state for boycotting the the protest.
Speaking through Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okoro, the government said the disposition of the residents was a mark of patriotism.
“The government of Ebonyi State under Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, on behalf of the founding fathers of our dear state, political leaders at all levels, royal fathers and indeed, all stakeholders expresses heartfelt gratitude to the entire people of the state, especially our cherished youths for harkening to the voice of reason and refusing to be lured into the proposed protest, which could truncate our collective efforts towards bettering our lots and those of the future generations of our state,” the commissioner said.
Barring appeals for peaceful protests, hoodlums yesterday invaded the Digital Innovation Park in Kano, which belongs to the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, vandalising most of the facilities.
This happened just days to the scheduled launch of the tech hub.
Lamenting the level destruction at the facility, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. ‘Bosun Tijani said the park was designed to support Nigeria’s technical talent accelerator programe (3MTT), was reportedly set ablaze and looted during the protests on Thursday.
“Sad to learn that our Digital Innovation Park in Kano slated for launch next week to support our technical talent accelerator (3MTT) has been set ablaze and looted by protesters,” Tijani stated in a post via X on Thursday.
The incident occurred as part of wider unrest in Kano, where protesters targeted the yet-to-be-commissioned Nigeria Communication Commission Industrial Park.
Tijani highlighted the immediate impact of this destruction on planned initiatives.
“Alongside #3MTT, this building is set to host our buildathon holiday maker programme for secondary school kids starting next week,” he added.
The minister characterised the damage as a setback for the journey to deepening the workforce for technology and creating job opportunities for the youth.
“Millions of naira down the drain,” Tijani cried.
President Tinubu had recently vowed that no government would condone protests that would lead to destruction of lives and property.
President Tinubu, who spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received Letters of Credence from the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills, Jr., said: “Our relationship with America is rich. We believe in democracy and freedom. Some of your predecessors worked hard during our transition to democracy, and we remember the likes of Ambassador Howard Jeter.
‘’We look forward to Nigeria and the United States continuously working to expand cooperation on shared goals and democratic values.
‘’During the military era, we made our voices heard against dictatorship, and I was part of the group that engaged in peaceful protests without resorting to the destruction of property.
‘’We have worked hard to ensure 25 years of unbroken democracy and I will continue to maintain this democracy.
“In as much as we believe that demonstrations are part of democracy, we will never encourage any protests that lead to the destruction of lives and property.
“Nigeria is ready to play its role as the largest democracy in Africa that is worthy of emulation to other African countries, but we need more US partnership on the continent that is beneficial to both sides. We believe in freedom, and we are providing the leadership to make Nigeria’s economy grow.’’
Ambassador Mills affirmed US support for Nigeria’s democracy, and pledged support for bigger roles for Nigeria in the international arena.
“Nigeria is crucial to the United States because we share democratic values, and we are ready to give you all the support.
“I am here to make sure that the relationship blossoms both on democracy and the economic side,” Ambassador Mills said.
The president’s declaration came on a day the Department of State Services, DSS, warned against the nationwide protest just as Defence Headquarters, DHQ, also expressed concern over the possibility of the protest being hijacked by violent elements.
It also said intelligence reports had shown that there is a plot to replicate in the country what happened in Kenya.
However, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, said though it would not be participating in the protest, the police must protect the protesters to prevent hoodlums from hijacking it and also asked President Tinubu to review his government’s policy of floating the naira.
According to the labour movement, the flotation of the naira is partly responsible for the harsh economic conditions in the country.
