Hunger Protest: 1 Million-man March Fails To Hold In States

The much-advertised “One Million-man March” slated to be held nationwide yesterday to mark the end of the 10-day “EndBadGovernance Protest” did not take place in most federation states.

LEADERSHIP Sunday investigations revealed that the organisers cancelled the exercise over alleged security threats.

In Zamfara State, there was no march by protest in any part of the state.

When our correspondent went around the streets of Gusau, the state’s capital, there was no gathering or procession by a group of people in the name of hunger protest.

However, special prayers were conducted by the Muslim faithful in Juma’at mosques for God’s intervention in the country’s precarious situation.

The violence that marred the nationwide protest on August 1 in Borno State, where the Nigeria police confirmed the killing of four persons and injuring of 34 others, which was followed by the declaration of a 24-hour curfew by Governor Babagana Umar Zulum, no protest has been witnessed again in the state.

However, yesterday, there was a heavy security presence at strategic areas, with military armoured vehicles stationed at the entrance and surroundings of the Government House.

In Kaduna State, no protest of any form and business activities resumed.

Our correspondent, who monitored the Kaduna metropolis, reports that shops and offices were opened for full-scale activities.

In Kaduna State, there was no protest whatsoever as normal activities were witnessed in all places visited.

However, this may be connected to the curfew, which is still in place from 6 pm to 8 am, making the presence of security personnel visible around strategic locations.

There was no protest in Ilorin, Kwara State yesterday.

The residents of Ilorin, the state capital, were seen going about their regular businesses without any hindrance and motorists, both private and commercial operators were on the roads.

The anticipated closing march was not held in Bauchi.

The protesters did not come out in Bauchi streets while businesses operated without any hinderance.

In Rivers State, there were no marches or protests whatsoever in the Port Harcourt metropolis and its environs.

One of the local organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest in the state, who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday on condition of anonymity, said the protest was suspended following alleged threats by security agents to arrest the protesters.

He said, “We learnt yesterday evening (Friday) that the police and other security agents were planning to use the opportunity to arrest innocent protesters. So, we had to abort the march. It will now take place in Abuja and Lagos only.”

The Rivers State Police Command issued a statement on Friday night placing its operatives on red alert ahead of the planned one million-man march across the country.

From Day 1 through yesterday, residents of Abia State have continued to shun the protest, going about with their normal business activities.

Unlike Day 1, when they shut their shops and restricted their movements, the day witnessed usual social activities, just like free vehicular movements.

The one-million-man march announced by Sanyaolu Juwon, the national coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, organisers of the hunger demonstration, failed to take place anywhere in Delta State.

Except for the patrol and massive presence of combined security men—soldiers, police, civil defence, and others—stationed around the popular Interbua Roundabout, Koko Flyover, and other major junctions in Asaba and other cities in the state, there was relative peace and orderliness as everyone went about their business.

The much-hyped final day protest of #End BadGovernance, did not hold in Sokoto State.

Our correspondent, who drove around, noticed that the Sokoto metropolis was peaceful, with everyone going about their regular activities.

The suspension of the EndBadGovernance protest by the organisers in Osun State on August 6 remained effective as there was no protest in the state yesterday.

The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, the organising body of the protest in Osun under the leadership of Comrade Ajala Adetunji, put the protest on hold on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, which he attributed to the celebration of the Osun Osogbo festival.

In Owerri, the Imo State capital, there was no single convergence of protesters. Residents chose to stay away as a heavy downpour started from 5 a.m. However, security operatives were deployed to major junctions and places to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

However, a coalition of youths in Plateau State rounded off the 10-day protest yesterday and presented some demands to Governor Caleb Mutfwang, for onward transmission to President Bola Tinubu.

LEADERSHIP Sunday reports that Plateau residents, mostly youths, marched on the major streets of Jos as part of the ongoing nationwide protests.

While presenting their demands to Mutfwang yesterday evening, Mr Sam Ode said that they required the input of both the state and federal governments.

He said, “For the state government, we demand an immediate cut in the cost of governance. We also demand an explanation of how the various palliatives and funds from the federal government were being expended.

“We also call on the state government to implement the minimum wage recently signed into law by the president and reduce the school fees of tertiary institutions.

“For the federal government, we call on the president to end corruption, reverse the pump price of fuel to N300 per litre, and also reverse the hike in electricity tariff,” Ode said.