Protesters change tactics, move to occupy Abuja Monday

A few hours after President Bola Tinubu’s plea in a nationwide address on Sunday seeking an end to the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest which started on August 1, the protesters have vowed not to heed his call.

Rather than ending the protest, the demonstrators, tweeting on X.com under #OccupyAbuja on Sunday, said they would be shifting focus to the nation’s capital, Abuja.

One tweep, Stephen Osemwegie, tweeting as #PeterObiUSA, tweeted, “What Next? #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria. All roads lead to Abuja. Nigerians, wake up now. Every state, region, religion and people. Stand up for your country now or never.”

Also, a pro-democracy activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 general elections, Omoyele Sowore, in a response to Senator Ireti Kingigbe, wrote, “You have a chance to lead the #EndBadGovernmentInNigeria protest to the Eagle Square tomorrow (Monday). If your current health situation allows you to collect an SUV and all those jumbo allowances at the #NGRSenate, a trip to the protest ground would not kill you, Senator!”

One tweep, Morior Invictus, tweeting as #PeterObIsComing, wrote, “Abuja protesters are doing their best but the number needs to quadruple for Tinubu and Wike to understand how angry Nigerians are. 100,000 people can #OccupyAbuja and shut it down. But many are still scared to join the protest. We must #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.”

One X.com user, Chulo, tweeting as #felixbuezecyrus tweeted, “As protesters from anywhere around the country, it’s important that we all head to Abuja because any protests that didn’t hold strong in the capital city of a country holds no water.”

A user, Unity, tweeting as #Unityforum1, tweeted, “Summary of the president’s speech: I have heard you. I’m busy working. Go back home. Subsidy is forever gone (Forget it). Continue to endure the hardship/hunger. Your protest is politically motivated Thank you for listening. Congratulations, Nigeria #OccupyAbuja.”

Another tweep, Oladeyforyou, with the username #trendwithola, wrote, “Tomorrow is Monday. It is time to #OccupyAbuja if we want to #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.”

Since its commencement on Thursday, August 1, 2024, Nigerians have continued to air their frustrations and concerns with regards to the low standard of living of the citizenry.

Under the tag, #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria, protests have erupted across the country, with protesters calling on the Federal Government to return the fuel subsidy, reduce the high cost of food items, enhance the nation’s security architecture, decrease the electricity tariff, among other demands.