Protesters
By Moses Omorogieva
Lagos, June 12, 2024 (NAN) Activists marking the Democracy Day in Lagos State have called on the Federal Government to address hunger, inflation and insecurity in the country.
They made the call on Wednesday while marching along some major streets in Ikeja axis of the state to protest what they called economic hardship and insecurity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters, mainly human rights activists and Pro-June 12 activists, early Wednesday morning converged under the Ikeja Bridge in Lagos, as the country marks the 2024 Democracy Day.
The protesters in their numbers chanted solidarity songs and displayed placards with different inscriptions like “Cost of living is becoming unbearable”; “We demand for better governance; payment of living wage to all Nigerians”; amongst others.
One of the speakers, Mr Omotaje Olawale, said the current electoral process was faulty from the beginning and was imposed on Nigerians by the military government.
Olawale said that though many Nigerians, including MKO Abiola, the acclaimed winner of 1993 Presidential Election, knew this faulty electoral process, but chose not to quit.
He noted that too much power had been given to those in authority, while the electorate were left unprotected, living at the mercy of few Nigerians handling the `national cakes’.
Funmi Ajayi of Activists for the Masses Coalition, called on those in authority to listen to average Nigerians.
Ajayi said that democracy should address hunger, inflation, insecurity and basic needs of average Nigerians.
NAN reports that the protesters were peaceful in their march.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Adegoke Fayoade led the Police personnel and other security agencies in providing security.
Fayoade explained that though the protesters were peaceful in their conduct, security personnel had to be on ground to prevent the process from being hijacked by undesirable elements. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Adeleye Ajayi
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