Hardship protest: Osun protesters hit Osogbo streets despite rain

Many residents of Osogbo on Thursday defied early morning light rain and stormed streets for the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest against the poor state of the economy.

The protesters had started their march from Freedom Park, Osogbo, and moved through the popular MDS road to Olaiya Junction where the protesters, accompanied by armed security operatives, addressed journalists.

Undeterred by the drizzle that started shortly after the procession took off, the protesters armed with a large banner with the inscriptions, ‘End bad governance in Nigeria,’ sang songs to express their frustrations over the poor state of the economy.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Osun State Coordinator, Coalition of Concern Nigeria Citizen, Adetunji Ajala, demanded a return of the pump price to N180 per litre.

“Hunger, poverty and bad policy of this administration are affecting all of us. We are here not because of any political affiliation, not because anybody has given us money. What we have here is a reflection that people are displeased.

Osogbo protesters

“The youth population is the largest and they are the ones suffering most. The office of the citizen is the highest in the land.
We are not afraid of anybody. What we have come to do is to exercise our rights.

“Pump price is N800 per litre today. It is not a question of either APC or PDP. What we are going through in this country is affecting everybody and it was caused by bad governance.

“Tinubu should review the policies. We are hungry. The protest is going to last for ten days. We want the pump price to return to N180 per litre,” Ajala said.

PUNCH Online reports that a major protest erupted Thursday, August 1 across Nigeria, driven by public dissatisfaction with current economic and social conditions.

Demonstrators voiced their frustrations nationwide, calling for reforms and greater accountability.

Earlier, President Bola Tinubu appealed for patience with his policies and urged citizens not to let hoodlums exploit the unrest.

The protest underscored the nation’s desire for change while highlighting the need for peaceful and constructive dialogue.