Hundreds of residents of Oyo State took to the streets on Monday to protest against the economic hardship and rising cost of living in the country.
According to Punch, The protesters carried placards with various messages, such as “End food hike and inflation,” “The poor are starving,” and “Tinubu, don’t forget your promises.”
The protesters marched peacefully, despite the presence of police officers, and sang songs to vent their anger and frustration over the economic situation in the country. They said that they were tired of the way things are, and demanded that the government take concrete action to address the problems.
“Hunger is killing people. We can’t afford to buy food, fuel, or medicine. The government has failed us. They should resign or face more resistance,” one of the protesters, who identified himself as Ade, said.
The protest in Oyo State is part of a series of demonstrations that have erupted across the country in the past months, as Nigerians express their dissatisfaction with the economic hardship and insecurity challenges facing the nation. The masses have complained that they can no longer go to farms because of the threat of bandits and kidnappers, and that the prices of foodstuffs and other essentials have skyrocketed beyond their reach.
Last week, similar protests broke out in parts of the North and South-West, where the protesters said that they wanted to draw the attention of the government to their plight. They also accused some political leaders, such as the former Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Bola Tinubu, of failing to deliver on their promises to the people.
Some notable citizens, such as the Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, and the former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, have also called on the government to do something about the economic situation in the country before the protests escalate into violence.
They have urged the government to listen to the voice of the people, and implement policies that would improve the living conditions and security of the citizens.