By our reporter
*We don tire, resident Amoda cries out
Apparently refusing to paper over the cracks pertaining to the prevailing socio-economic situation in the land, as against official pronouncements, thousands of Nigerians today stormed the streets of Nigeria’s commercial and industrial capital, Lagos.
They were peacefully protesting the dire cost of living conditions imposed on the masses by the President Bola Tinubu Federal Government (FG).
Displaying banners which bore protest inscriptions depicting the worsening economic poverty of the average Nigerian, the protesters converged at the usually busy Ikeja Underbridge denouncing and demanding official U-turn on what some described as “the killer economic policies of the Tinubu government.”
Some of the placards spotted by People&Politics read: “Nigerian masses work hard but cannot feed. Enough is enough”; “Pay Nigerian soldiers better. Pay Nigerian Police better”; “Noone deserves a death sentence for protesting against hunger”; “End hunger, hardship and insecurity. Reverse all IMF/World Bank anti-poor policies. End attacks on democratic rights. We want genuine electoral reform.”
Apparently, the State Police Command was cool about the protest as security operatives were seen on ground not molesting any protester even as the peaceful demonstration went on.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State Command, Ben Hundeyin, confirmed the protest, adding that there was no cause for alarm.
According to him, “Adequate security is on ground for celebrants and protesters alike. No cause for alarm. Your safety and security remain our priority.”
Bystanders, traders and other persons were seen praising the protesters for the public show of defiance to prove to the federal authorities that majority ordinary Nigerians are “very unhappy and very angry” with them over the negative effects of the economic policies on their lives.
A middle-aged man, who gave his name simply as Amoda, said in pidgin English:”We don tire for this government. We don really tire. My children never chop since morning and there’s no sign say I go return home today with reasonable money to take feed them.
“Things dey very costly for market since Asiwaju (Tinubu) comot fuel price subsidy and make Naira yeye.
“How they wan make we manage? You try this,no way; you try that, no way. And if I put hand for evil now, dem go carry police come; na jail be that.
“Some of my friends,their marriages don crash because no money to take look after family like before.
“Abeg, make them do restore foodstuff and other prices as e be before 2015 o. We take God name take de beg them. Make them remember say every human being go die one day and face judgment of Olorun. Him no de hear “sorry, Sir” for the other side o.”
