Two different groups took to the street in peaceful protest across major parts of Ibadan, the Oyo state capital city on Thursday. The protest held despite appeals from the Federal Government and prominent Nigerians.
While a group was a coalition of various interest bodies under the aegis of “Oyo State Coalition Against Hardship”, the other group operated under the name “Take it back Movement”.
Both groups recorded large number of participants who carried placards and sang solidarity songs as they marched to different parts of the capital city.
Their placards and banners clearly stated their demands to the government.
In their various speeches, both groups said they didn’t organise the protest against any particular individual but against hardship in the land and what they described as bad governance which is bringing untold pains and hardship on the citizens.
They vowed not to back down in their agitations until their demands are met while also asking for a total overhaul of the 1999 constitution, a reversal of the fuel subsidy policy to make life easy for citizens
Both group enjoyed security protection as patrol vans of combined security operatives, particularly the Police provided cover to ensure the protesters didn’t derail.
The “Take it Back Movement”, assembled at the Rose Wale Petroleum Station, Iwo Road where they addressed the people before proceeding to Iwo road, Agodi Gate, Mokola, University of Ibadan (UI) gate, before terminating at Ojoo.
Before and while the protest lasted, the rendezvous recorded large security presence as patrol vans and officers were notices stationed at strategic parts of the area.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards and banners reads “End poverty”, “Create jobs”, “Improve our lives”, Tinubu, we are dying”, among others.
But, the Oyo State Coalition Against Hardship assembled at UI Gate passed through Samonda, Sango and Mokola, where they also address the people and terminated the protest for the day.
They described Thursday protest as a dress rehearsal noting that they will continue the march and to sensitize the people on their demands on a daily basis, even as they demanded action from the government to address the widespread hunger and scarcity of essential commodities affecting millions of Nigerians.
However by noon, business activities, human and vehicular movement which started slowly had picked as people started going around with their businesses.
Commercial drivers including inter state drivers who intially expressed skeptism about the strike were seen going about their business by noon as people began to move from place to place, but with low turnout.
The calm that trailed the protest also reached the Oyo State government Secretariat which was opened, despite the protest.
But the entire Secretariat was deserted as workers did not report for duties.
Although a part of the gate was locked, access into the Secretariat was unhindered for both human and vehicles. There was increased security personnel stationed at the entrance and at other strategic locations around the state secretariat.
A police Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed in front of the exit gate that was shut, and only the main entrance gate was partly opened, as the other entrances were shut.
Banks and schools (both public and private) were shut while the protest lasted.
