August 1: Protest against hunger, bad governance not based on religion, ethnicity – JAF, others tell Nigerians

Some civil society organizations in Oyo State, such as Joint Action Front (JAF), Socialist Labour, All Workers Convergence, and Centre for Popular Education, have declared that the planned protest scheduled for tomorrow is not based on religious, ethnic or political affiliations.

The groups made this declaration while expressing their support for the protest, which is set to start tomorrow, August 1, across the country.

JAF Coordinator in Oyo State, Professor Ademola Aremu, who addressed journalists on behalf of the groups at a press conference held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, noted that the planned peaceful protest has become necessary due to the widespread hunger and scarcity of essential commodities across the country.

He added that the groups used the opportunity of the press conference to officially declare their total support for the protest.

Aremu further warned individuals or groups intending to engage in violence to stay away from the peaceful action, stating that there will be no room for looting, destruction of property, or any form of violence in the protest.

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He encouraged Nigerians who are fed up with the state of the country not to be intimidated by the regime’s scare tactics.

The groups, in their demands, called for the immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies, specifically reducing the pump price of petrol to N197, immediate repositioning of all public refineries, an end to the importation of petroleum products, immediate reversal of the decision to hike electricity tariffs, and regionalization of the power sector under the control and management of the elected representatives of the working people.

The groups also demanded that political office holders be placed on the salary and allowances earned by civil servants, that the Nigeria Police and armed forces be allowed to form and belong to trade unions for the adequate defense of their economic rights, and that there be free education at all levels as constitutionally guaranteed, with a reversal of current fee hikes across Nigeria’s public tertiary institutions.

“The coalition is hereby organizing this press conference today, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, to officially declare its total support for the protest against hardship and to publicly announce an independent protest to engage other Nigerians supporting the call for the protest, with a view to building a broader base for the movement to end poverty and misery, especially bad governance caused by various anti-poor neoliberal policies of the Nigerian capitalist government.

“The coalition wholeheartedly supports the protest against hunger and hardship. This is despite the fact that none of the constituent organizations in the coalition were involved in calling for the protest. The coalition notes that the prevailing conditions of mass misery and poverty amidst abundant wealth, largely caused by various anti-poor capitalist policies of the Nigerian government, provide sufficient justification for the call for the protest.

“The coalition’s planned independent activities to support the hunger protest are peaceful. We warn individuals or groups intending to engage in violence to stay away from the peaceful action, as there will be no room for looting, destruction of property, or any form of violence in our protest. We inform the general public that this protest is not based on religion, ethnicity, or political party affiliations but aims to demand a better Nigeria.

“The coalition urges all Nigerian working people and youths who are fed up with the situation in the country not to be intimidated by the regime’s scare tactics. Instead, they should join the protest and participate in activities organized by the coalition to support the protest.

“The coalition warns against any form of state repression and provocation but urges all relevant security apparatus in the state to provide adequate security coverage and support. Given that the call for the protest was not initiated by the coalition, we acknowledge the possibility that other groups not part of the coalition may also be planning actions across the state. In light of this, we state that the convergence and take-off point for the coalition’s planned action on August 1, 2024, shall be the frontage of the University of Ibadan (UI) gate at 7 a.m.

“Once again, we reiterate that the coalition’s planned protest does not have any religious, ethnic, or political undertones as the political class would like people to believe. The increasing hunger and intense hardship in the land are not colored by these factors. Be guided by the reality of poverty and hopelessness that this government has subjected its people to for no just reason at all. Our demands: Immediate reversal of all anti-poor policies, specifically reducing the pump price of petrol to N197. Immediate repositioning of all public refineries and an end to the importation of petroleum products.”