Economic hardship: Osun youths take to streets of Osogbo in protest

Youths in Osun State took to the streets in a peaceful march to express their dissatisfaction with the soaring cost of goods and services, as well as the increasing cost of living in the country.

Led by leaders of civil society organizations, the protesters called upon the federal and state governments, along with other stakeholders, to urgently intervene and prevent the country from facing imminent collapse.

Despite the heavy presence of police operatives near the protest site along MDS Road, Osogbo, the determined protesters assembled early on Friday, undeterred by the authorities.

Chairman of the Osun Civil Societies Coalition, Waheed Lawal, addressed the demonstrators who held up placards with various messages such as ‘change the unfavorable policies’, ‘Nigerians are suffering, we can’t endure anymore’, and ‘We deserve respect as citizens’. Lawal emphasized that the protest would persist until the Federal Government devises effective solutions to alleviate the current economic hardships plaguing the nation.

In his words, “Government must ameliorate the suffering of the people. They must do whatever they need to do to make sure that the people live in better conditions.

“Nigerians deserve the best. They promised us renewed hope but what they are giving us now is renewed hardship. We reject renewed hardship in our lives, and in our economy because Nigerians deserve the best.

“What Nigerians want is a peaceful atmosphere. We don’t want insecurity in our land again. We can’t travel from Osogbo to Ibadan without panicking. You will be thinking that they will kidnap you.

“The abduction of monarchs is the order of the day in our country now. We urge the government to provide security for the lives and property of the citizens. It is their responsibility, it is a constitutional responsibility.

“Every government that fails to provide security for the lives of the citizens is no longer a government. What we are saying is simple, we are ready to face the government in this hardship and we are marathon runners.

“We have started this struggle today and if the government fails to listen to us, we will continue to mobilise our people to protest this hardship because enough is enough.”

TopNaija understands that in a statement singed by the Osun State Police Command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, he warned against any plans to hijack peaceful protests in the state.

According to him, the police were in possession of intelligence, revealing that some criminal elements intended to hijack any peaceful protests and use the avenue to cause chaos in the state.