The nationwide hunger protests tagged #EndBadGovernance has taken a mega dimention.
This is as the protesters thought to have been dispersed have commenced a one-million-man rally in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Daily Intel Newspaper had reported that the protest against high cost of living, which began on August 1, is scheduled to end today, August 10.
However, the organisers later vowed to stage a one-million-man protest in the 36 states and Abuja to mark the grand finale of the hunger protest.
The protesters, who were seen with placards and banners bearing ‘We Are Tired of Bad Governance,’ and ‘We Are Hungry,’ stormed the streets of Abuja in the early hours of Saturday.
President Bola Tinubu had in a second appeal on Wednesday, August 7, since the commencement of the protest, urged the citizens to exercise patience with his administration, assuring that the country is about to enter a new dawn.
In an official video released by the State House, the president, who acknowledged the ongoing hardship orchestrated by the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira, said he understood the hardship that Nigerians are going through as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
He urged citizens to look beyond the current harsh economic condition and place their hope on the brighter future the policies of his administration tend to bring to the country.
“Fellow Nigerians, this period may be hard on us and there is no doubt that it is tough on us, but I urge you all to look beyond the present temporary pains and aim at the larger picture. All our good and helpful plans are in the works. More importantly, I know that they will work. Sadly, there was an avoidable lag between subsidy removal and these plans coming fully online,” he said.
The president assured that the measures his government have taken would get the country out of the lingering economic crisis, urging Nigerians to have faith in his administration.
“I plead with you, please, have faith in our ability to deliver and in our concern for your well-being. We will get out of this turbulence and due to the measures we have taken, Nigeria will be better equipped and able to take advantage of the future that awaits her.
“For example, we shall fulfil our promise to make education more affordable to all and provide loans to higher education students who may need them. No Nigerian student will have to abandon higher education because of lack of money.
“Our commitment is to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of our people. On principle, we shall never falter, I assure you, my fellow countrymen and women, that we are exiting the darkness to enter a new and glorious dawn. Now, I must get back to work to make this vision come true,” Tinubu said.
