Some Nigerians have slammed Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress candidate for the 2023 presidential election for insisting the hunger protests continue on Monday.
This comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday appealed to Nigerians to suspend the protests to dialogue with the government on challenges facing the nation.
Tinubu urged the protesters to suspend their demonstrations, adding that the efforts of his administration “will soon be visible and concrete for everyone to see, feel, and enjoy”.
Nigerians have been protesting against economic hardship and spiralling inflation since August 1.
After Tinubu’s appeal on Sunday, the few people who gathered at the Freedom Park in Lagos early on Sunday.
The Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja was also deserted.
On Sunday, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State, Jibril Gawat announced on his X account that protest leaders in Ojota have declared to suspend the demonstration after Tinubu’s speech.
He wrote: BREAKING NEWS: Protest leaders at Ojota have called off their demonstrations after the President’s broadcast this morning. They told the police they would leave the protest ground and disperse.”
However, in response to Gawat’s post, Sowore who is not in the country, insisted that the protests continue on Monday, adding details of demonstration locations.
He said: “Please be aware that the #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria action will resume fully tomorrow across Nigeria and in several parts of Lagos—Lekki Toll Gate, Alausa Secretariat, former Lagos Toll Gate, Ketu, LASU Gate, Abule Egba, FESTAC Town, and several other centres. However, all groups are advised to march towards Ojota before processions to the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa.”
Some Nigerians however took a swipe at Sowore over his recent call.
@EleluAyoola wrote: “Sowore, come to Nigeria and lead the protest. That is how to know if you mean well for us.”
@realaspirin said: ”Since Monday, you never buy tickets fly go 9ja. You just dey rant online.”
@rhaymoni demanded: ”No be Cho Cho Cho… Come to Nigeria and show working.”
@Bellotec stated: “If you like, listen to him, you will just die and die for nothing. Those who were killed yesterday in the Kurna/Bacirawa axis of Kano died for nothing, nothing will change, and nobody will be prosecuted, only leaving their family to grief. If you like, no listen, you won’t rest in peace sha.”
@bolajiayo asked: “Why don’t you come with your children and lead the protest? Why instigate other people’s children to go out and protest? What happened to your children? Abi they are not patriotic Nigerians?”
@computizzy1: “Nah, bro. People are going back to work tomorrow. This shit ain’t working and they’re tired of it. You gonna have to fly down from the US to come run it yourself. You can still get flights from EWR or JFK that’ll get you to Lagos tomorrow morning.”
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