The organizers of the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, which disrupted economic activities across Nigeria, are preparing for another wave of nationwide demonstrations scheduled for October.
Former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, confirmed the upcoming protests in a statement to DAILY POST on Saturday.
These protests follow a series of nationwide demonstrations held from August 1 to 10, driven by growing discontent over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions. While the protests were intended to be peaceful, they were marred by violence as non-state actors hijacked the events, leading to tragic consequences.
Reports indicate that 17 people lost their lives in states such as Abuja, Kano, Niger, Borno, Kaduna, and Jigawa, with many others injured as security forces clamped down on demonstrators. Additionally, over 1,135 individuals were arrested across the country in the wake of the unrest.
In Kano State, miscreants posing as protesters vandalized government properties, looted personal belongings, and even flew Russian flags while calling for military rule in Nigeria. Authorities in Kano arrested approximately 873 suspects, with 76, including a foreign national, transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for further investigation on charges of sedition.
Deji Adeyanju, another activist involved in the movement, stated on Saturday that efforts are ongoing to secure the release of those detained during the protests. “We are currently addressing their cases,” Adeyanju said.
Sowore also confirmed that some of the detained protesters have already been released, with ongoing efforts to free the remaining detainees. “We are working to get all detained persons released and have, in fact, succeeded in getting some released,” he said, expressing gratitude to human rights attorneys who have been instrumental in securing these releases. Sowore also warned that the federal government could face an ultimatum if it continues to detain protesters unjustly.
The planned October protest, dubbed #FearlessInOctober, appears to be a response to President Bola Tinubu’s perceived failure to address the demands of the EndBadGovernance protesters. These demands included reversing policies that have led to the high cost of living, such as the controversial fuel subsidy removal, along with 15 other key demands.
Among these demands are:
- Abolishing the Senate and making lawmaking a part-time endeavor with only the House of Representatives remaining.
- Raising the minimum wage to at least ₦250,000 per month.
- Releasing Mazi Nnamdi Kanu unconditionally, demilitarizing the South East, and compensating all EndSARS and political detainees.
- Ending banditry, terrorism, and violent crimes, and reforming security agencies to prevent human rights violations.
- Overhauling the Nigerian judiciary to remove corrupt elements that deny citizens access to justice.
- Allowing diaspora voting.
Despite President Tinubu addressing the nation during the August protests, organizers believe that their demands have not been met, leading to the planning of further demonstrations. Sowore emphasized that the upcoming protest in October will be more prolonged than the previous one, dismissing rumors of ongoing negotiations with the federal government. “I am not part of any negotiations. We are all working on our next set of prolonged protests tagged #FearlessInOctober,” Sowore stated.
