I rather die on the street than die at home, says protester

A protester, Benjamin Chijioke, who is among many Nigerians who hit the streets on Thursday to protest hardship and the high cost of living, declared his reasons for his demonstrations.

In an interview with a Channels TV reporter, Chijioke said, “I rather die on the street than die at home. I can’t sit and watch the future of my son go to waste. I know I may not have a future again in Nigeria but my son’s future will not be wasted.”

Chijioke’s statement is one of many Nigerians lamenting the desperation and determination to take to the streets in protest.

Speaking to an interviewer at the protest site in Lagos State, Chijioke revealed he had come alone from Festac to Mile 2 to participate in the demonstration.

He shared how the current economic situation is affecting his family, particularly his talented young son.

“My son at 13 is a programmer. I can’t even buy data for him to learn more. I can’t even pay for tuition fees; millions of naira. At 13, he can program video games,” Chijioke said.

Earlier, some other protesters have said the protests would continue unless President Bola Tinubu meets their demands.

They called on the president to do the needful and the protests would be immediately called off.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the Director of Mobilisation, Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, lamented that the oppression under the president’s leadership had lasted too long.

He said, “The various court orders restricting protesters to particular locations are an aberration.

”Our presence here today is an announcement that we have been oppressed for too long.

“Today, we have risen. We saying to the president that unless President Bola Tinubu accede to our demands we will remain on the streets. We want to see the president on the street. During the protest, he was on the street.”