Ondo residents protest over economic hardship, decry anti-masses policies

Some residents of Akure, the Ondo state capital, on Tuesday stormed the streets to express their displeasure over the current economic hardship in the country.

The residents, who were joined by human rights activists under the aegis of the #RevolutionNow, protested on major roads demanding immediate action on the high cost of living and inflation.

Thefrontrank reports that Nigeria is witnessing its worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, caused by the removal of petrol subsidy and the devaluation of the Naira by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The protest took place despite warnings by the Police Command in the state against any demonstration on the streets as the nation marked its 64th Independence Anniversary on October 1.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Oladipo, on Monday in a statement by the Spokesperson for the Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, had advised residents not to join any protest in the state.

Oladipo said the command had deployed operatives to the flash points to ensure no protest is used in truncating the Independence Day celebration.

Kicking off at the popular Cathedral Church junction along Oyemekun Road in Akure, the peaceful protesters chanted anti-government songs while demanding that President Tinubu should address the issue of hunger, reduce the pump price of petrol and electricity tariffs.

The protest, which was closely monitored by armed security personnel, drew the attention of commercial drivers and motorcyclists, who lamented over the disparity in the prices of fuel at filling stations in the state.

Addressing journalists at the protest ground, one of the leaders, Kunle Wiseman Ajayi, accused the government of not being sensitive to the needs of the citizens in the face of the economic challenges in the country.

Ajayi explained that the various “anti-government policies” of the current government have plunged the country into economic crisis, noting that Nigerians can no longer bear the hardship.

“As you can see, Nigerians are angry and at the same time hungry because of the poor economic policies of Tinubu’s government. Imagine the price of fuel; the high price of food, the common man, can no longer feed well. Do they want to kill us? Why is this government not listening to the people?

“There is hunger in the land; inflation in the country because of poor and unfavourable economic policies. We are demanding an end to this suffering. They should immediately reverse both fuel subsidy and electricity.

“This government continues to waste our resources and enriching their own pockets. We want to say Enough is Enough. They should allow the common man to breathe,” he said.

While listing some of the demands of the protesters to include an end to hunger and high cost of food, creation of jobs for the youths, reduction in the price of fuel and electricity, introduction of free education, Ajayi vowed that the people would continued with their action by demonstrating on the streets until the government address their grievances.

Also speaking, Seyi Ogundipe, an activist in the state, said the economic hardship in the country has worsened the plans of many Nigerian youths who are self-reliant and entrepreneurs.

He noted that if the situation persists without being addressed, the country may continuing to record a high rate of unemployment with the youths taking to crime.

Despite the protest, business activities were continuing, while traders and shop owners opened for sales as other residents moved about with their daily activities unhindered.