….Suspend nationwide protests immediately – Adegboruwa tells Nigerians
…Organisers Disown Adegboruwa, Say Protests Will Continue Till FG Meets Demands
..Curfew Imposed On More States
….Protests Continue In Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja
…..Police Arrest Suspected Looters, Hoodlums In Kano, Sokoto
Socio-economic activities, which were interrupted on Thursday by the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest in Nigeria, are gradually returning.in some States
While in Lagos, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okota, Ejigbo, Isolo, Lekki and other areas recorded vehicular movements and business activities.
Shops, malls and some other business premises were opened while street and roadside trading picked up.
Police vehicles which were stationed on Thursday at the Ago Roundabout on Okota Road were no longer there but a few policemen were seen sitting.
People were seen going about their normal activities.
However, Libra Transport Company premises at Ago Roundabout were still under lock.
A security guard there, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN on Friday that the company was not operating.
According to him, the organisation’s administrative staff were not at work, also.
He added that it was not certain if the buses would be on the roads on Saturday.
At the God is Good Motors premises also on Okota Road, a staff who did not want his name to be mentioned, told NAN that the company transported passengers to Asaba.
He said that the turnout of passengers was poor, saying that he was not sure the company would operate on Saturday.
Offices of the Young Shall Grow Transport Company and Peace Mass Transit at Mazamaza Park were still locked at the time of this report.
At the Jakande Gate axis of Isolo, business activities picked up on the second day of the protest.
Many shops were opened for businesses and popular supermarkets – Jendor and Justrite – were also opened for activities.
Guaranty Trust Bank, Eco Bank, Access Bank, First Bank, and other banks on the axis were operating.
Security operatives were seen at different spots from Jakande Gate to Iyana-Ejigbo.
A resident, Mrs Esther Agbonifo, expressed delight that socio-economic activities were picking up.
Agbonifo said that the protesters had made their voices heard and did not need to act for 10 days as they planned.
“We need to let the government know we are suffering, but they (protesters) should not let the protest last for 10 days because hoodlums might hijack it to cause problems,” she said.
Lekki Phase 1 in the state remained orderly and peaceful on the second day of the protest.
Policemen were still stationed at the Admiralty and Ikoyi Link Bridge toll gates of the area to maintain law and order while the residents were going about their normal businesses.
There were no signs of protest there as at the time of this report.
Major supermarkets, shops and banks were open for businesses, contrary to the situation on Thursday when the nationwide protest began.
Peace Returns To Nasarawa
Salient Times report that there are no protesters in sight at the Shendam Road in Lafia, Nasarawa State where they converged yesterday. Vehicular movement and activities are picking up, unlike on Thursday.
There is a security presence around town. Security personnel have reinforced their presence around the Government House.
Also, the streets of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital are busy and the markets are gradually opening. A visit to the popular Mile Six market shows the reopening of shops and markets around the vicinity.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, protesters have converged at the Pleasure Park.
But in some parts of the city, activities have resumed as against the situation on Thursday when the capital and its surrounding areas were deserted.
Motorists and traders who had avoided business on the first day of the #EndBadGovernance protest have returned to their normal routines this morning, following the peaceful nature of the demonstration.
Suspend nationwide protests immediately – Adegboruwa tells Nigerians
Meanwhile, Human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has asked youths to immediately suspend the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests because it has been hijacked by fifth columnists.
Adegboruwa made the plea in a statement on Friday while reacting to the losses recorded during the ongoing demonstrations, stating that it was not the goal of the protests.
He wrote: “I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the federal government.
“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties.The organisers and their representatives should embrace dialogue.
“My sincere condolences to the employers and families of the security personnel and also to the protesters, praying to God to comfort them and to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.”
He further urged President Bola Tinubu to “directly address the nation and then engage the protesters through their representatives.”
Salient Times reports that Adegboruwa is one of the lawyers of the Take It Back Movement, one of the groups participating in the ongoing protests.
Adegboruwa had on July 26, 2024, written to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun on behalf of the group planning the #EndBadGovernance protest to provide police coverage for protesters
Organisers Disown Adegboruwa, Say Protests Will Continue Till FG Meets Demands
But in his reaction, Organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests against economic hardship say the nationwide rallies which entered the second day on Friday will continue till President Bola Tinubu addresses their demands.
Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilisation of Take It Back Movement, a non-governmental organisation, stated this on Channels Television’s The August Protests programme on Friday
Protests: We ‘ll take action if protest escalates – CDS warns
Christopher Musa, chief of defence staff (CDS), Friday promised that the Nigerian army will take action if the ongoing protest escalates.
Musa disclosed this while fielding questions from journalists as regards the level of violet recorded so far in the country.
Since yesterday, Nigerians have been protesting against hardship, hunger, and other socio-economic stress in the country.
Taking advantage of the situation, hoodlums on Thursday hijacked the protest to vandalized and loot people’s properties.
Reacting to the situation Musa said that the military is at alert and fully prepared to take action if the protest escalates.
Recall that the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar has commended the National Council for Civil Society of Nigeria for not participating in the ongoing protests.
He highlighted the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s numerous initiatives that will turn the economy around for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“He is just one year in office and he has done very well and I know that with these initiatives, we will soon start to see the positive results
