Hardship: Residents, CSOs Stage Peaceful Protest in Osogbo

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, yesterday staged a protest against the economic hardship ravaging the country.

The protest tagged: ‘Osogbo Enough Is Enough, President Bola Tinubu let the poor breathe’, was organised by the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) over high cost of living and economic hardship in the country.

However, security personnel were present at the scenes of the protest to maintain peace and order, and to avert any public disturbance or violence.

The protesters moved from Nelson Mandela Freedom Park venue to Oke-Fia roundabouts and ended at the popular Olaiya-Overhead bridge in Osogbo.

Fielding questions from journalists on the sideline of the protest, the Chairman, OCSC, Waheed Lawal, condemned the Trade Union Congress (TUC) decision to back out of the proposed two-day nationwide protest over the economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.

Lawal said the last minute plan by the TUC to back out of the proposed protest, which both labour unions agreed upon, was worrisome.

He said the union ought to have aligned itself with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for the best interest of about 200 million Nigerians facing economic hardship and high cost of living.

According to him, “I will have loved the TUC to see reason why they ought not to back out at this point because the two-day proposed protest is for the best interest of all Nigerians.

“Both labour unions should try and sort things out on or before the commencement of the protest. But if TUC fails to join, we support NLC to carry on with the protest.”

Lawal said President Bola Tinubu must look beyond giving millions of naira as palliatives to governors to addressing their hungry subjects; rather he should find a lasting solution to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.

Also speaking, Wale Adebisi , Director, Ola-Oni Centre, Osogbo, said the protest was to signal those in authorities that the February  27 and 28 would be the mother of all protest across the country.

Adebisi, advised President Tinubu to fulfill his promises to Nigerians after the removal of fuel subsidy that has worsened the economic predicament of things in the country.

Earlier, Ayo Ologun, a human right activist and public affairs analyst, condemned the policies, saying there should have been programmes already in place to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians by President Tinubu.

Ologun said no CNG buses, no increased national minimum wage, high price of petrol, high cost of living among others that have left many Nigerians suffering.

He advised the president to quickly fulfill all the promises made with the organised labour in order to make life meaningful to all Nigerians.