Protesters
The nationwide protest to end bad governance has forced many Nigerians to tread with caution as traffic in major cities on Thursday morning was unusually lean with many shops still shut and socio-economic activities in a lull, reports Political Economist NG.
Some private employers have directed their staffers to work from home, fearing there could be violence in the course of the protest.
In Lagos, many shops are still under lock with Ikorodu road and other usually busy routes having lean traffic. Some of the early arrivals among the protesters blamed the government for forcing them out to protest. “If the government had done well by making life easy for everybody especially the poor, there will be no need for protest’, stated a man in his 30s who refused to disclose his name, saying since he was born, he has never experienced this level of hunger.
Some of the protesters gathered by the national Stadium in Surulere, at Ojuelegba and other places not designated by the Lagos state government.
Political Economist NG reports that the Lagos state government has restricted protesters to the Peace Park and the Gani Fawehinmi ground where the police have also assured peaceful protesters of protection.
As early as 8am, Thursday, police personnel were seen at Ojota area joyfully singing and showing no demeanour of violence or resistance to the protesters. Some of the protesters said their destination is Government House in Alausa where they intend to present their grievances to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
In Kaduna, some of the protesters have started gathering though the metropolis is experiencing more traffic than Lagos.
Pleasure Park in Port Harcourt experienced early arrival of some protesters who said more of their colleagues are coming to join them. They bore placards with messages including: STOP THE HUNGER, WE ARE HUNGRY, among others.
Similar situations have been recorded in Abuja and Kano but most of the people who spoke to Political Economist NG said they were for peaceful protest, not violent protest.
