KICNEWS

Tag: Protests

  • Mixed reactions trail planned nationwide protest

    Mixed reactions trail planned nationwide protest

    Mixed reactions trail planned nationwide protest

    Mixed reactions trail planned nationwide protest

    Mixed reactions have continued to trail the planned nationwide protest, as called by some unnamed groups, over the current hardship in the country.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some undisclosed bodies planned the protest for Aug. 1, with posters and hashtags already going viral on social media platforms.

     

    Speaking with NAN in Ibadan on Thursday, some respondents opposed the protest, while others saw it as the people’s legitimate and fundamental right to air their grievances.

     

    A civil servant at the state secretariat, Mrs Toyin Olutimilehin, said the protest might not be positive for the polity because it could disrupt their work schedule.

     

    “It can affect our daily routine because, sometimes, these protests get out of control.

     

    “They will sometimes block the main road to cause extreme traffic, leading to obstruction of duty and interference at work,” she said.

     

    Another civil servant, Mr Folarin Babatunde, also opposed the idea of protesting to be heard.

     

    According to him, the protest is only an excuse for the youths to show their presence and an opportunity for criminals to exhibit their criminal tendencies.

     

    “It will lead to criminal activities such as vandalism and the destruction of properties, putting lives at stake.

     

    “People put their lives at risk all in the name of a better country, and what is the assurance that this protest will solve the country’s many problems?

     

    “Rome was not built in a day; give the president time to renovate the country at his pace,” Babatunde said.

     

    Meanwhile, Mrs Olanrewaju Temitope, a trader at the Ring Road axis of Ibadan, was more interested in protecting her business should the protest end in looting and destruction of properties.

     

    “Besides, sales for that period will be low, affecting my day-to-day life.

     

    “My rent is due, and the protest will negatively affect my income, thus restricting me from paying my rent.

     

    “Please, Nigerians shouldn’t go through with the protest as it can lead to many things; it won’t still solve their problems,” she said.

     

    On the other hand, a youth corps member, Mr Ifeanyi Eze, says he wholeheartedly supports the protest.

     

    According to him, the country is in a state of distress, and everybody is just used to suffering and smiling; this protest is the only way for us to be heard and seen.

     

    Eze said, “Although the protest might not lead to a complete change, it will at least make them see that we want a change, and we’ll be heard.

     

    “This hardship is too much to bear. Dangote is also feeling it, as he’s always granting one interview or the other these days.

     

    “I want a better country, and if a protest is how to get it, then that is what we’ll do.”

     

    A passerby, Steven Ayobami, said he would support the protest because of the hardship brought about by the bad economy.

     

    “For a middle-class family to be frustrated to this extent, what of the poor? The rich are getting richer, and the poor are getting poorer.

     

    “What we need in Nigeria is to act, and as for me, I want a better life,” Ayobami said. (NAN)

  • Hoodlums ‘ll loot our shops’, Kaduna non-indigenes flay planned protest

    Hoodlums ‘ll loot our shops’, Kaduna non-indigenes flay planned protest

     

    Hoodlums ‘ll loot our shops’, Kaduna non-indigenes flay planned protest

    ‘Hoodlums ‘ll loot our shops’, Kaduna non-indigenes flay planned protes

     

    Non- indigenes in Kaduna State have raised alarm over consequences of the planned nationwide protest against soaring cost of living and economic hardship in the country, alleging that hoodlums hiding under the protest would loot their shops; market and business premises across the State.

     

    According to members of the Kaduna Non Indigenes Forum especially the Igbo traders, they decided to withdraw from the protest, because of past experiences in which once there was any protest action or crisis situation in the State, the target was usually market stalls and business areas with extensive looting of food items; electronics and valuables .

     

    The Kaduna Non-Indegenes Forum in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman, Chief Emeke Emmanuel Okafor and Secretary, Mr Adewale Peter Adelanwa urged the citizens to shun the directive to embark on the planned protest, considering the fact that the Police Command in State recently banned all forms of unlawful protests. “It is our hope that citizens in the State will remain law abiding in this regard,” they added.

     

    While expressing concerns over the possibility of violence, citing past instances where similar protests in the State had degenerated into escalated crisis, the Forum called on state government to deploy armed security operatives to red zones or identified flash points to secure lives and properties.

     

    It described Kaduna as a volatile State with non-indegenes most hit and suffering huge loss of lives and property during any crisis period over the years, adding that they can’t afford to lose anyone and valuables.

     

    “It is our desire that considering the past crisis experiences and strong possibilities of hoodlums hijacking the peaceful process, we strongly advise against any form of protest in Kaduna for now .We want to categorically state that we are part of the people facing the economic hardship, but we cannot afford to lose our hard earned investments and properties at this critical period,when Nigerians currently are battling one of the country’s worst inflation and economic crisis sparked by the government’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of forex windows.”

     

    “There was a report where the United Nations (UN) department of safety and security warned that the planned protests in Nigeria may be hijacked by groups with ulterior motives,hence our decision to appeal to citizens against joining the protest action.”

     

    “There is no how the “10 days of rage,” starting from August I to 10 will address the country’s soaring cost of living and economic hardship,instead it will cause more hardship,” the kaduna Non indigenes Forum added.