The traditional Oro worshippers in the southwest geopolitical zone and members of the Yoruba Patriots Movement (YPM), have declared the six states in the region as no-go areas for the planned #EndBadGovernsnceInNigeria protest, warning the organisers and prospective protesters to steer clear of Yorubaland.
The group issued the warning
ahead of the August 1, 2024, protest, which draws closer by the day.
In a statement yesterday they said members would occupy every space of the southwest from July 28 to August 28, 2024 to perform traditional rites in Oro to mark this year’s edition of the Oro Festival.
“The streets in Lagos, Ogun Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States are no go areas for protesters.
“Go to your states to protest against your state governor if you are not happy with him,“ the statement reads.
It stated further that “No strangers are allowed to roam around the streets without express permission of traditional rulers in southwest cities, talk less of staging any form of street protests of any kind.
“We are not saying you should not hold a protest against any government. You have the constitutional right, but respect our own cultural rights. You may go to Abuja, Kaduna, Yola, Jos, Enugu, Port-Harcourt, Owerri, Benin city, Sokoto, Yola or Maiduguri.
“The southwest leadership are reflecting on #EndSARS protest in Lagos whereby multibillions naira manufacturing industries, factories and businesses were put on fire and destroyed by hired idiots but the ‘Computer Village’ was spared, not touched.
“Where would those who lost their jobs to the burnt factories, industries and businesses during the protest start from?
“Do you know Shoprite Stores at Lekki, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Awoyaya were completely looted and burnt in the wake of the #EndSARS protest but Computer Village was spared from the attack and none of the luxurious buses at Yaba and Jibowu, traveling to the Eastern region was destroyed.“
Meanwhile, The Daily Crucible reports that organisers of the planned nationwide protest have unveiled over a dozen demands from President Bola Tinubu’s government.
According to the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in the last presidential election, Omoyele Sowore, who is one of the organisers of the movement, the “Days of Rage” and “EndBadGovernance” protests seek to s draw the attention of the Federal Government to the rising cost of living as Nigerians grapple with the economic situation of the country.due to fuel subsidy removal and free floating exchange rate policy.
Sowore said the prospective protesters want the government to return the fuel subsidy, address issues in the power sector, release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, and allow for diaspora voting during general elections
Parts of the demands read,: “Scrap the 1999 constitution and replace it with a people-made Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a sovereign National Conference followed by a National Referendum.
“Toss the Senate arm of the Nigerian legislative system. Keep the House of Representatives and make lawmaking a part-time endeavour.
“Pay Nigerian workers a minimum wage of nothing less than N250,000 monthly.
“Invest heavily in education and give Nigerian students grants not loans. Aggressively pursue free and compulsory education for children across Nigeria.
“Release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally and demilitarize the South East. All ENDSARS and political detainees must also be released and compensated.
“Rationalize public owned enterprises sold to government officials and cronies.
“Reinstate a corruption-free subsidy regime to reduce hunger, starvation and multidimensional poverty.
“Probe past and present Nigerian leaders, who have looted the treasury, recover their loot and deposit it in a special account to fund education, healthcare and infrastructure.
“Restructuring of Nigeria to accommodate Nigeria’s diversity, resources control, decentralization and regional development.
“End banditry, terrorism and violent crimes. Reform security agencies to stop continuous human rights violations.
“Establishment of a special energy immediately to drive massive corruption-free power sector development.
“Immediate reconstitution of the electoral body, INEC to remove corrupt individuals and partisan hacks appointed to manipulate elections.
“Massive investment in public works and industrialization will help employ Nigeria’s teaming youths.
“Massive shake-ups in the Nigerian judiciary to remove cabals of corrupt generations of judges and judicial officers that continue denying citizens access to real justice.
“Diaspora voting.”
