The #FearlessInOctober protest recorded a low turnout in the Federal Capital Territory and states amid the heavy presence of security operatives.
This was as the organisers of the protest, the Take It Back Movement, rejected the planned 30-day National Youth Confab, announced earlier on Tuesday by President Bola Tinubu.
The group described the initiative as ‘’a jamboree” designed to reward the President’s supporters.
In his Independence Day address, Tinubu announced plans to convene a youth conference which he said would be held for 30 days to address and discuss challenges facing the Nigerian youth, who accounted for more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s population.
“I am pleased to announce the gathering of a National Youth Conference. This conference will be a platform to address the diverse challenges and opportunities confronting our young people, who constitute more than 60 per cent of our population.
‘’The 30-day confab will unite young people nationwide to collaboratively develop solutions to issues such as education, employment, innovation, security, and social justice. The modalities of this Confab and selection of delegates will be designed in close consultation with our young people through their representatives. Through this confab, it will be our job as leaders to ensure that their aspirations are at the heart of the conference’s deliberations,” the President said.
Reacting to the plan, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, noted that the President did not organise any confabs before implementing his policies.
He said, ‘’I think President Tinubu wants to lavish taxpayers’ money to organise a jamboree for his supporters. We saw some of them that were paid, NANS (National Association of Nigerian Students), singing his praises in Abuja, so I think that is simply what the President wants to do.
“What confab did he organise before he awarded a private jet to himself costing billions? Did we hold any confab before he decided to use billions of naira to construct an apartment for the Vice President? Or which confab did we hold before they started paying themselves huge allowances, budgeting billions for kitchen utensils?’’
Continuing, Sanyaolu added, “As a matter of fact, what confab did the President hold before increasing the price of fuel, even between August and now, to over N1,000? Even, some are buying at N1,500. Nigerians don’t need a confab.
“We don’t need our money to be wasted on organizing a jamboree for his supporters in APC or wherever they come from. Nigerians need good governance, and it is not a confab that will fix that.”
Asked whether the protest will continue, Sanyaolu said “The protest continues, but the new date will be announced because I am aware that there are still people in different states who want to protest. But we are going to announce the next days, which we will definitely not be far from now.”
Speaking to The PUNCH, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, disclosed that the Federal Government would set up an implementation task force to spearhead the implementation of the recommendations from the upcoming youth confab.
Adding context to the nature of preparation, Olawande said it included creating an implementation task force for various issues on the agenda.
“We are going to roll it out very soon, and we are going to have the terms and conditions, the areas, the views and all that. And we are still going to plead with the President to give us what we call an implementation task force so that immediately, where we need to do an Executive Order, we put it up.
“Those (recommendations) that need to go to the National Assembly, we take it off and we start having this as quickly as possible. So, it’s a done deal,” the minister noted.
Olawande said the process leading to Tuesday’s announcement stemmed from extensive stakeholder consultations.
Although the initial brief proposed four days for the dialogue, the President recommended a one-month confab.
He explained, “I was very happy because I’ve been telling the young people in my constituency that the President is a listening President. Last month, we brought many young people together and talked to ourselves. After the strategy meeting, we told ourselves that we needed to get all the youths from all the parties to come and talk, strategise together and present something to the President.
“We called it a Youth Dialogue. We consulted with all the stakeholders. After consulting with the stakeholders, the President listened to us and said, ‘Fine, you want to dialogue within four days, right? But for me, I want to expand it, and let’s see how you can come together as young people of this country.
“We believe in this country and know that it belongs to us. This is what you’ve seen today, and we are very happy with it. It’s a very good development, and we are preparing to roll out things very soon with all stakeholders involved, which the President has consulted.”
The Senate Majority Leader, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, promised to support the recommendations from the youth confab, saying such an initiative was overdue.
He stated, “The need for a youth confab at this point cannot be overemphasised. The youth, like the President, who is also duly recognised, constitute over 60 per cent of our population or demography. And I believe that the time to listen to the youth is not just when they are on the streets protesting.
“If we can hear them loud and clear when they are protesting, we should be able even to hear them louder when we are all seated through a confab to discuss in a very articulate manner.
“So it would be a welcome development. We all look forward to that. And as elected representatives of the people, we also will ensure that we join in creating a conducive amosphere and environment for the youth confab.”
The lawmaker also said that the National Assembly would give due consideration to the Economic Stabilisation Bills, which were approved at the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council.
Unimpressed, the Peoples Democratic Party and the Coalition for United Political Parties criticized the President’s decision to hold a youth confab, describing it as ‘a misallocation of priorities.’
The PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, argued that the move highlights the President’s lack of ideas on governance.
He stated “The President has just said he’s bereft of ideas on how to govern this country. You see, the President likes rhetoric, big talk, and zero action. It is time for an economic summit rather than a youth conference.
“What he should be doing now is organizing an economic summit where he will gather Nigerian economic experts from around the globe to get the best minds to assist him in fixing Nigeria’s economy. He should also convene a security summit to engage some of the best security chiefs and experts to address the security issues in the country.’’
The Labour Party National Youth Leader, Kennedy Ahanotu, similarly criticized the move as a superficial approach to addressing urgent national issues.
Ahanotu said the idea of a youth confab is poorly timed, emphasizing that what Nigerians truly needed is good governance.
“I feel that this is just a peripheral approach to solving pressing national issues. This conference was initiated to divert the attention of Nigerian youths. What Nigerian youths have been asking for is good governance. When transportation, education, healthcare, and other sectors are functioning, why do we need a national youth conference?’’ he queried.
The CUPP National Spokesperson, Mark Adebayo, slammed the Federal Government over the proposal, describing it as insincere.
He expressed concern that the confab might turn into another jamboree to influence youths to support Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, ‘’despite his poor performance.’’
He stated, “As far as I’m concerned, this so-called national youth conference will likely be a mirage with no concrete achievements resulting from it. It’s a deliberate and strategic distraction by the government, in my opinion. Another senseless waste of resources that will run into billions of naira in a very sick economy. It has no intrinsic value.”
But the All Progressives Congress and some youth groups commended the planned conference.
APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said by this decision, Tinubu has shown he is a caring and attentive leader who exemplified the party’s principles.
He urged the protesting youths to rethink their positions, emphasizing that the president’s mission and intentions are honourable and genuinely aimed at benefiting the country.
Ibrahim also labelled the PDP, LP and CUPP, which have criticized the move, as not having Nigeria’s best interests at heart.
“What the president is trying to do is engage the youth politically and politely so they can plan for their future. A conference of this nature will help prepare young minds to take charge of their country’s future and shape their destinies. Anyone who opposes this does not have the country’s future at heart, ’’ he insisted.
The National Youth Council of Nigeria commended Tinubu for approving the youth confab.
The youth body in a statement by its President, Sara-Igbe Sukubo, on Tuesday, said ‘’This initiative marks a significant milestone in promoting youth engagement and empowerment within our nation, highlighting the government’s acknowledgment of the essential role young people play in shaping Nigeria’s future.’’
The Speaker of the Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Leadership, Abdul Danbature, urged the President to move beyond mere statements and ensure the implementation of all his promises.
Danbature expressed disappointment that despite responding to Tinubu’s call for dialogue during the #EndBadGovernance protest, nothing came of it.
Earlier on Tuesday, the October 1 protest was dispersed by police officers who fired tear gas canisters on the protesters in the Utako area of the nation’s capital, but the FCT police command denied the attack on the youths.
The protest was a continuation of the #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and 10 in response to the economic hardship experienced by many Nigerians.
As early as 7am, the protesters, whose numbers were considerably lower than the previous rally, gathered at the busy Utako market in the Utako area of the FCT.
The participants consisting mostly of youths were demanding a review of the policies causing hardship in the country when some police officers arrived and dispersed them with tear gas.
However, the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh denied that the police attacked the protesters.
Adeh, in a statement, said the police officers only took measures to prevent miscreants who allegedly took advantage of the protest to loot shops in the market.
She said, “The FCT police command is aware of reports making the rounds that policemen attacked protesters at Utako Market in Abuja earlier today, October 1, 2024.
‘’The command wishes to categorically debunk the narrative, tagging it completely false and misleading. Acting on intelligence, the operatives only took measures to forestall some miscreants who were taking advantage of the protest to loot shops in the market and as a result, extended focus to them.
“As a responsible agency, we could not stand by and allow traders to be robbed of their hard-earned money and belongings without intervening. We therefore urge the populace to disregard such misleading and mischievous information, as the command is committed to ensuring the safety of the populace in the exercise of their civil rights.”
But our correspondent, who was at the scene, reports that the police officers dispersed the protesters with tear gas.
Unlike the previous protest when the participants regrouped after being tear-gassed, the youths simply fled from the relentless onslaught of the armed security personnel who had been deployed across the FCT.
Heavy security presence was observed at the city centre, including Eagle Square, Berger Roundabout, MKO Abiola National Stadium, Wuse Market, Airport Road, and the Maraba/Nyanya axis.
Security operatives also mounted barricades on the roads leading to Eagle Square, where dozens of security operatives were stationed.
The PUNCH reported that the organisers of the protest had expressed interest in using Eagle Square, but the security personnel prevented them from accessing the facility.
In Lagos, protesters gathered at Ikeja Underbridge with the rally closely monitored by a large contingent of security personnel, including policemen, officials of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, and the NSCDC.
Leading the team of policemen at the protest ground was the state Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola.
The protesters chanted solidarity songs, displaying placards bearing inscriptions such as “Reverse electricity tariff now, “End all attacks on democratic rights”, “Reduce petrol price to N197 per litre, end scarcity”, and “Profit soars while people suffer.”
Spearheading the protest were some civil society groups, including the Take It Back Movement, the Education Rights Campaign, the Coalition for Revolution, and the Socialist Workers League.
A former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, joined the protest just before the procession began from the point of convergence.
Sowore, who is one of the key organisers of the protest, arrived at the protest ground at exactly 8:50am.
Addressing newsmen, he said the protest was a crucial step towards taking Nigeria to the “Promised Land.”
He said, “This is one of the actions that will take us to the Promised Land. We did it in August and today is a symbolic day to reject their independence as we want our independence.
“Have we not tried enough? We have no time left. We gave more time; look at what (Muhammadu) Buhari did with more time. We gave them more time they bought themselves a private jet, we gave them more time, they bought a new house, they increased fuel price. We gave him more time they put us in darkness.
“We gave them more time they gave us minimum wage and gave themselves maximum wage. Let them resign, that is how we will know they actually understand how people feel this time around.”
There was heavy presence of security operatives in Ogun State, including soldiers, police and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, one of the venues approved by the state High Court for the protest, but there no protesters at the arena.
The other venues are the Gateway Stadium in Sagamu, Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu Ode and Ansar-Ud-Deen Comprehensive High School in Ota.
The PUNCH learnt that there were also no protests in other parts of the state as the Independence anniversary, which is usually celebrated at the MKO stadium was shifted to the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Abeokuta.
One of our correspondents, who monitored activities around the Mowe, Interchange, Okemosan, Panseke and Kuto areas of the state, observed that regular activities and movement were not disrupted as security operatives and Ogun State Community Social Orientation and Safety Corps and men of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency manned strategic positions to forestall a breakdown of law and order.
One of the organisers of the protest in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Demua Dumka, who is also the state Chairman of the Civil Rights Council alleged that he and the Leader of the Take It Back Movement in the state, Adeyemi Ademola, were among protesters attacked by thugs accompanied by security operatives.
Thugs opposed to the protest, numbering about 50, took over the Federal Secretariat and the Pleasure Park in Port Harcourt, venues of the protest in Port Harcourt, amid heavy security presence at both locations and the Hotel Presidential.
“This (Tuesday) morning some policemen and joint taskforce officials came here (Port Harcourt), beat and harassed some of us, though none of us was arrested.
“Beating protesters doesn’t stop the fact that there is hunger in the land. It doesn’t also stop the fact that there is a hike in food items and that we cannot even buy Premium Motor Spirit anymore.
“They (government) must listen to our demands. Our demands must be met and we must continue to talk whether they like it or not,” Dumka told journalists.
One of the youths, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The PUNCH they were out to ensure the protest didn’t hold.
“We are not protesters. We are waiting for those who want to protest so that we can stop them.”
Also at the Pleasure Park the anti-Fearless Protesters numbering about fifty were seen while three canopies were mounted near the gate of the popular fun spot in the metropolis.
Our correspondent observed that five youths, who’s identities or the crime they committed could not be immediately ascertained, were arrested and taken away inside a mini-bus near the Federal Secretariat.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, on the arrest of the youths proved abortive as she did not take calls put across to her mobile by our reporter. She had yet to reply to a text message to her mobile as of the time of filming ng this report on Tuesday morning.
The planned protest in Kano, which was organised by the Nigerian Patriotic Front Movement, was aborted following the alleged arrest of five of their officials by the police.
The NPFM officers last week vowed to stage a peaceful protest against the current hardships being experienced by Nigerians.
However, following the arrest of the NPFM officials, the protest could not hold as Kano and its environs remained calm while residents went about their daily and lawful activities.
Following the anticipated planned protest, many residents remained indoors while many business places, including some markets and shops, remained closed.
In Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the protesters were led by members of the Coalition of Concerned Nigeria Citizens, who were joined by members of the Take It Back Movement. They were accompanied by security operatives at Freedom Park, where the protest march took off.
A large number of operatives of the police, Department of State Security, NSCDC, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the Nigeria Correctional Service kept a close watch on the protesters in a long convoy from close distance, as they moved towards the Oke Fia Area of the state capital.
Chanting anti-government songs, the protesters demanded an immediate end to the economic hardship ravaging the country.
Addressing journalists, the coordinator of the group that organised the protest, Adetunji Ajala, said,”Enough is enough. Our demands during the Endbadgovernance protest have not been met, and we will continue protesting as long as they are not willing to do what the masses want.”
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Edo State on Tuesday demanded the restoration of fuel subsidy, improvement of security, revert to single legislature among others by the Tinubu administration.
The group, which include African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Talakawa Republic, Take It Back Movement and Faculty of Peace Organisation, said the removal of fuel subsidy, insecurity and floating of the naira have made life very difficult for Nigerians.
The coordinator, Take it Back Movement, Edo State, Lawal Haifz, said, “We are here to protest the current situation in Nigeria. People are really suffering. We demand the restoration of fuel subsidy. Insecurity has made it impossible for our people to go to farm and that is why you can no longer buy foodstuffs.
“We don’t need the Senate and House of Representatives at the same time. The money spent on the two can go a long way in taking care of the needs of Nigerians. The so called minimum wage cannot even buy a bag of rice. There is extreme hunger.”
States shun protest
The PUNCH reports that at least 20 states, including all five in the eastern part, shunned the protest.
The others are Adamawa, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Katsina, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, Bayelsa and Yobe states.
In Minna, the Niger State capital, residents stayed indoors during the Independence Day celebrations amid a heavy presence of security operatives at strategic locations while police and NSCDC patrol vehicles parked at major spots as others were patrolled the city.
Another major town in the state, Suleja, was peaceful unlike during the #EndBadGorvernance protest when protesters invaded a police station with six of them reportedly killed.
Meanwhile, Adamawa and Nasarawa youths staged solidarity walks in favour of President Tinubu.
The Adamawa youths under the aegis of ‘Concerned Youths of Adamawa’ hit major streets of capital city Yola as Nigeria marked its 64th Independence anniversary.
Convener of the group, concerned youths Yakubu Umar Girei, told journalists the walk was meant to support the laudable policies and programmes of the Tinubu administration.
In Nasarawa, convener of the I Am Nigeria group, Ibrahim Maiyanga, said they unanimously decided not to participate in the protest in order to sustain the existing peace in the state and Nigeria at large.
“We know that we are not where we ought to be, but we are not where we used to be. So, I want to urge all the citizens of the country to be patient with our President. I am confident that very soon we will all have reasons to smile.”
However, security operatives kept watch at the Secretariat junction and Old Airport junction in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Tuesday.
A former sports minister,Solomon Dalung, who led the EndBadGovernance protest in the state last August, said, “It is not as if we do not want to protest in Plateau but the context of the situation we have and the previous one are not the same.
“So, you should not expect us to adopt the same method. But the truth is that the economic hardship and sufferings by Nigerians that warranted the EndBadGovernance in Nigeria protest have not changed as we speak, so you cannot say that Nigerians in Plateau have stopped protesting for those responsible for the situation to change it.
“So, we will continue to protest against the bad situation we have in Nigeria until the people get relief but the method of this protest should not be expected to be the same here in Plateau.”
In Kaduna, one of the most volatile states during the August protest, residents went about their usual activities, businesses in the metropolis and environs remained open, and shops in the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Central Market were operational as no protest took place despite initial tension.
However, security operatives were deployed to strategic locations across the state, including Narayi High Cost, Barnawa Complex, and Stadium Roundabout, as a precautionary measure.
Interestingly, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Kaduna State distanced itself from the protest.
END
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