Protesters Ground Activities In Lagos

As the work-to-rule declared by organised labour began today across the nation, commercial activities in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, were grounded as protesters took to the streets to register their rejection of the removal of subsidy from premium motor spirit otherwise known as petrol.

The protesters, some of whom said they left their homes as early as 5 a.m., converged on the late Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota and blocked the entire area between 9am and 4.30pm with a promise to continue with the protest if President Goodluck Jonathan failed to reverse the price of the product to its original N65 per litre.

The protest which was organised by Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and other civil society groups had tens of thousands in attendance according to some of the organisers.

Many of the participants said they actually trekked to the venue as there were no commercial vehicles throughout the state.

The protest was also attended by prominent Nigerians including presidential aspirant in the last election, Dele Momodu, Tunji Braithwaite, wife of the late Beko Ransome-Kuti and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Rotimi Agunsoye.

It was also attended by Nollywood actors and musicians many of whom spoke against the subsidy removal by the government and even other policies which they described as anti-people.

In her remarks, Ganiat the wife of late Gani Fawehinmi, said she was at the protest to show solidarity with the people of the country.

She further said she got wind of the removal of fuel subsidy on Christmas Day as according to her, someone privy to the information, had visited her and told her.

When she had become convinced that it was true, she said: “I immediately called a press conference and told Nigerians, but nobody believed me. I also organised a protest march on December 31 and people thought I was mad.”

While discrediting President Jonathan’s government as insensitive to the suffering of the people, she displayed a book written by her late husband in which he said there was nothing like subsidy, but an exploitative term by the government against the people.

She was supported by Braithewaite, who said the people of the country had suffered for a long time in silence while being ruled by ‘rats and mosquitoes’.

He urged the protesters to be resilient in the struggle.

Femi Falana, while addressing the crowd, said this may just be the beginning of a revolution that would wipe away the corrupt class in the society.

He challenged the protesters to ensure that they win the battle peacefully.

Femi Kuti, who also sang some of his songs at the venue, said he had warned people against voting for President Jonathan in the last election, but that his pleas fell on deaf ears.

He however said the present administration was enough lesson for the people as they should “shine your eyes in the next election.”

A popular Yoruba actress known as Ronke Oshodi-Oke, said she joined the protest because she is a Nigerian and feels the impact of the “anti-human policy” on the people.

She said Nigerians are all sad, frustrated and angry as they have been finally pushed to the wall. She vowed to continue with her support for the masses.

Many of the actors and musicians regretted supporting Jonathan during his campaigns with some adding that it was based on business.

Pastor Bakare, who spoke before the crowd dispersed vowed to continue the protest till the government came to its senses.

According to him, the President does not think and as a result, he has been acting against expectations.

“If he thinks well, he would act well, but because he does not think well, he does not act well,” he said.

He urged the protesters to meet at the same venue on Tuesday for the continuation of the protest.

— Eromosele Ebhomele