Woman escalates hunger protest in Lagos, puts empty cooking pot on head, participation in most states
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A crying woman escalated the hunger protest in Ojota, Lagos on Thursday by putting an empty cooking put on her head and crying profusely to show her desperation, even as police fired tear gas canisters in other parts of the state.
Police also shot tear gas at agitators in Abuja where Bola Tinubu hired counter protesters while he remains in the presidential bunker as he ordered the security forces to quash the uprising to give the false impression citizens did not protest in his front yard.
Residents in most states North and South participated in the uproar called by civil society groups to focus attention to how the President’s misallocation of funds and failure to cut the cost of governance – coupled with insincere rhetoric and action on other matters – combine to make life worse for citizens.
Heavy rainfall disrupted the march in Imo in the South East. Enugu residents observed a sit-at-home as their own form of protest.
A downpour also dispersed protesters on the popular Ring Road in Benin City in the South South but street protests were held in Port Harcourt.
Ekiti in the South West was quiet. Both Osogbo and Ibadan – the historical hotbed of political protests in the zone – saw action.
In the North East, youths and children occupied major streets in Jalingo in the North East, protesters were tear gassed in Bauchi.
Reports show, however, that a huge turn out that marched in several locations in Kaduna in the North West was peaceful and uninterrupted by police.
The tearful drama queen in Lagos was the centre of attention in the crowd of hundreds of protesters. Many were drawn to her as she held nothing back in wailing about the acute hunger she is experiencing.
“Ebi o, ebi o” she shouted in Yoruba which means “hunger! hunger!” amid drops of tears.
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