By Adeyinka Adeniran
Peaceful protest rock different parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city on Thursday in commemoration of the Democracy day.
The protesters under the aiges of Oyo State Coalition of Civil Socialists, Labour Activists and Students against hardship and hunger took to the streets of Ibadan to demand end to economic hardship, insecurity and call for genuine electoral reforms.
They also want the government to build more refineries.
The peaceful protests was staged along Mokola-Adamasingba-Dugbe to Agodi Gate.
The protesters who carried placards and big banners called on both the Federal and State governments to listen to the cry of the masses.
Some inscriptions on the placards reads: “End hunger, hardship, insecurity, reverse all International Monetary Fund/World Bank, anti-poor policies, and end attacks on democratic rights for genuine electoral reform.”
Speaking with journalists, the former Chairman of Academic Staff Union of University, University of Ibadan, Prof. Ademola Aremu urged governments at all levels to pay more attention to the masses.
Aremu, who is the Coordinator of Joint Action Front, said, “We are saying attention should be given to the insecurity.
“We are saying we want people to be able to sleep and sleep well. We want people to travel and have peace of mind. We are saying the farmers should go back to the farm and be able to cultivate. This is what we want from our governments.”
Security operatives were seen at strategic locations to maintain law and order and to also ensure the protest was not hijacked.
Also speaking, Oyo State Chairman of African Alliance Congress (AAC), Comrade David Babayemi (KBD) said they took to the street to protest hunger, insecurity and many unpleasant things in the country.
He said, “We are coming out today, as we all know that today is democracy day, but so sad that nothing has been democratic so far. Right from the days of June 12, 1993, that was the day that was recorded that we had a free and fair election, but since then, we have not been able to experience free and fair election again.
“All that we are experiencing is ballot snatching and declaration of state of emergency all and all, like just had in Rivers State. Aside that as well, we are not only coming out for the sake of June 12 declaration, we are also coming out to say end bad governance, end hunger, end insecurity, all and all.
“Nigerians are tired because, as we speak, noting is working. No one can say this is what this administration has achieved so far. All that we have been seeing is insecurity, hunger, bad governance, bad representations here and there.
“And that is why Nigerians are saying we can’t continue to live in fear, we can’t continue to die in silence and that is why you see us on the streets today, demanding for good governance, demanding for people who are tired to resign and leave the place, demanding for a proper, perfect democracy true to its definition: government of the people, for the people and by the people but sad that what we are experiencing today is a government of the cabal, by the cabals and for the cabals.
“It is so sad that at this critical situation and junction we found ourselves, Nigerians are still begging to have 10hours power supply. It is abnormal. Everything is down in the country, nothing is working presently. People are dying everyday. Should we talk about the killings happening in Benue, Plateau, Ondo among others.
“Nothing is working, they are only coming up with paper achievements. Achievements only on paper that has never materialise in the life of an average Nigerian. It is just as if they are trying to deceive Nigerians but Nigerians are not sleeping and that is why you see us on the street today.
