The ongoing #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest has been suspended in Osun State due to the upcoming 2024 Osun Osogbo festival. The grand finale of the annual festival is slated for Friday, August 9, 2024.
The decision was revealed by the organisers of the protest in the state after they presented a protest letter to the state governor, Ademola Adeleke. The letter was received on behalf of Governor Adeleke by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, at the State Secretariat, Abere, on Tuesday.
Adewusi assured the protesters, “I assure you that Governor Ademola Adeleke will deliver the letter to President Bola Tinubu and also do everything possible to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.”
The protesters, under the aegis of the Coalition for Concerned Nigerian Citizens, Osun State, through Adetunji Ajala, announced the indefinite suspension of the demonstration during a press briefing in Osogbo.
Ajala stated, “We, the coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, the organising body of the EndBadGovernance protest in Osun State, wish to address the public and the media regarding the ongoing protest, which began on the 1st of August 2024 and marks its 6th day today. Since the inception of this peaceful protest, we have made our demands clear, seeking immediate action from our leaders to address the pressing issues affecting the citizens of our beloved state and country.”
“We acknowledge the recent address by the President of Nigeria; however, we express our profound disappointment as the president’s speech failed to address any of our specific demands. Despite this setback, today, we successfully presented our demands to the Governor of Osun State through the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government, who told us that the governor would forward our demands to the Federal Executive Council.”
Ajala highlighted the security concerns related to the Osun Osogbo festival, stating, “Considering the safety of the influx of tourists coming for the global Osun Osogbo festival and the possibility of hoodlums disguising as tourists and unleashing attacks on peaceful protesters amidst other security concerns, we consider it imperative to put the protest on hold today, 6th August 2024.”
The protest against hunger and bad governance, which started nationwide on August 1, 2024, was scheduled to end on August 10, 2024. The protest in Osun State has remained peaceful, with no incidents, clashes with security operatives, or looting recorded
