Apparently dismissing the upbeat tone of President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day nationwide broadcast today, a mammoth crowd of protesters staged a fresh #EndBadGovernance protest in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.
In his broadcast, Tinubu had reminded Nigerians of his administration’s accomplishments in three years in the fields of security, investments, deepening of democracy, and other areas.
The Lagos protesters, however, demanded for immediate government solutions to the prevailing economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment and cost-of-living crisis rocking the lives of majority ordinary Nigerians.
Nonetheless, it was not a sole sojourn on the streets for the group, snaking in the Ikeja under bridge axis, as another set of demonstrators emerged expressing support for the Federal Government’s ongoing economic and policy reforms.
The #EndBadGovernance protest attracted activists, civil society organisations (CSOs) and concerned Nigerians who marched peacefully through parts of the sprawling city.
Displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Free All Captives Now,” “End Anti-People Policies Now,” and “For a Living Wage and Mass Creation of Employment”, some of the protesters shouted anti-government slogans and poured Invectives on named government officials.
They expressed worry over the deepening poverty in the country and demanded that the Tinubu administration takes decisive steps to ameliorate the bad conditions.
They pointed to the adverse effects of inflation, high transportation costs and declining purchasing power on ordinary Nigerians, urging leaders to address these favourably.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria and rights activist Femi Falana was among the protesters.
Speaking, he urged improved governance, enhanced security and economic reforms to up the living conditions of the masses.
Falana had earlier backed several CSOs in designating 12 June as a day of nationwide demonstrations, citing growing concerns over widespread insecurity, hunger and the economic challenges afflicting millions of Nigerians.
How Pro-Govt Protests Went
On their part, the pro-government supporters marched with banners bearing messages of optimism such as “Better Days Ahead for Nigeria,” urging patience for the reforms to yield positive dividends.
To the group, the policies being implemented by government were intended to reposition the economy for long-term recovery, stability and sustainable growth.
*PHOTO CAPTION: A cross section of the protesters in Lagos… today.
