Organisers of the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests have said demonstrations may go beyond the planned 10 days if their demands are not met by the Federal Government.
According to Channels Television, Damilola Adenola, director of mobilisation at ‘Take it Back Movement’, said this on Friday.
The protesters are demanding that politicians be put on minimum wage, return of fuel subsidy, adequate security, job creation, better life and electoral reforms.
Inflation has reached 34 per cent owing majorly to the twin policies of subsidy removal and floating of the naira. That has pushed the cost of basic items beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians.
Nigerians have taken to the streets since August 1 to rail against bad governance. The demonstrations have been themed ’10 Days of Rage’.
Adenola was quoted as saying that Nigerians are dealing with an irresponsible ruling class.
“The protest, like we said, was slated for 10 days but it may go beyond, depending on the response we get from the government. But it doesn’t seem like we are dealing with a responsible government”, he said.
“So, the government should expect it to go beyond 10 days if our demands are not addressed.”
Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who was also on the programme, said the government has taken the protesters for granted by not listening to their demands.
Effiong said President Bola Tinubu should not just address Nigerians but work towards meeting their demands.
“I think Nigerians should no longer be taken for granted. We cannot continue to live in a country where we have leaders who do not listen to what the people are saying,” Effiong said.
“People claim the president is doing this and he is listening. This protest has lasted for two days now. Has President Tinubu spoken to Nigerians?
“I personally don’t want him to address Nigerians, I want him to address the demands of Nigerians. It is not the same thing. But has he even addressed Nigerians?
“Forty eight hours after, over 12 Nigerians have been killed at a minimum. Has the president spoken? 48 hours after, has the government said we want to talk or these are our representatives in the dialogue?
“People kept saying the protesters should talk to the government, they say the protesters are faceless, who are the people to represent the government if the conversation is to take place? What are the demands of the protesters?
“You say people should leave the street but have you listened to them? You have a president that has 48 ministers, the highest in the history of our country. At a time that the country does not have money to run and pay for basic services.
“If the president is serious, it shouldn’t take Tinubu one hour to reduce the number of ministers to 27.”
