By Gabriel Ewepu
The drumbeats of nationwide protests are set to reverberate on October 1, coinciding with Nigeria’s 64th Independence Day. The #EndBadGovernance movement, which saw over 1,000 protesters being charged with treason and still in prison, is gearing up for fresh protests to demand accountability from the government.
Civil Society Organisations have expressed concerns over the lack of engagement from the Federal Government despite promises of dialogue by President Bola Tinubu. ANEEJ Executive Secretary, Rev David Ugolor, emphasized the need for dialogue to prevent escalating tensions and urged the government to address the demands of the protesters.
Global Rights Nigeria Executive Director, Abiodun Baiyewu, noted the government’s intolerance towards dissent and expressed doubts about meaningful engagement with protesters. He highlighted the government’s crackdown on activists and the lack of concrete actions to address the issues raised by the protesters.
Similarly, Health of Mother Earth Foundation Director, Arc Nnimmo Bassey, urged Nigerians to demand the unconditional release of protesters and emphasized the importance of preserving democracy and civil liberties. Meanwhile, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, highlighted the need for dialogue and expressed concerns over the prolonged detention of protesters.
The upcoming protests present an opportunity for the government to listen to the grievances of the people and engage in meaningful dialogue to address the issues affecting the country.