Wike, Abuja campaigner clash over August protest at planned venue

• The take it back movement is determined to proceed with its protest at Eagle Square in Abuja regardless of whether the government gives approval or not
• Damilare Adenola, the director of mobilisation, revealed that a formal request for the use of the venue was submitted to FCT minister Nyesom Wike; who on the other hand claimed he had no knowledge of the letter
• Interestingly, the planned protest against hardship, is gathering momentum in the polity and will be held across all states of the Federation as well as the FCT on August 1

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

The Take It Back Movement, one of the organizers of the planned protest against hunger and hardship, has vowed to proceed with the protest at Eagle Square in Abuja, with or without the government's approval of using the venue.

The group's mobilization director, Damilare Adenola, disclosed this when he appeared on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics.

He noted that Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), had been written to for permission.

Legit.ng recalled that the youth leader had signed a letter addressed to the minister, seeking use of the facility.

The letter was dated July 26, 2024, and was broadcast on social media platforms.

However, on Saturday, July 27, the minister said he hadn’t received the letter. Interestingly, Wike demanded a formal application process and security fees.

“We don’t just give people the venue because they have applied; you must fulfil the conditions,” Wike said.

However, Adenola, on Sunday, July 28, blamed the delay in the delivery of the letter on bureaucratic bottlenecks in government but said the minister would get the letter unfailingly on Monday, Daily Trust reported.

“The truth is that the Eagle Square is a public property. When I saw the video of the minister, I was amazed because I saw the minister asking us to pay rent, pay security fees and all that.“My question to the minister is this: how does the minister expect a greater population of Nigerian youths who are impoverished, who have no jobs to afford what he is expecting us to pay?“We are going to be at the Eagle Square on August 1st,” he said.

Sowore dares Wike over protest

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Omoyele Sowore, the AAC presidential candidate in the 2023 election, disclosed that the trending hunger protest would begin in Abuja.

Sowore's declaration came a day after the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, said the Nigerian capital is not available for any protest now.

Nigerian governments, security agencies and traditional rulers have warned against the protest, citing security concerns.

Source: Legit.ng