Youths in Osun State on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, the state capital, calling on the federal government to address economic hardship in the country.
Tagged the ‘Osun Peaceful Solidarity Walk’, the protesters who converged beside the Freedom Park in Osogbo said the rising cost of living has become unbearable for the poor masses.
Policemen and some personnel of other security agencies were at the scene of the protest to maintain law and order.
The Convener, Comrade Owolabi Hassan Oluwatobi said Nigerians were suffering as a result of the current economic hardship in the country.
The Chairman of the Civil Society Coalition in the state, Comrade Waheed Lawal called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently tackle economic hardship in the country.
Lawal said the civil society organisation in the state would organise a mega protest if the federal government fails to provide a solution to the economic hardship.
He said, “Government must ameliorate the suffering of the people. They must do whatever they need to do to make sure that the people live in better conditions.
“Nigerians deserve the best. They promised us renewed hope but what they are giving us now is renewed hardship. We reject renewed hardship in our lives, and in our economy because Nigerians deserve the best.
“What Nigerians want is a peaceful atmosphere. We don’t want insecurity in our land again. We can’t travel from Osogbo to Ibadan without panicking. You will be thinking that they will kidnap you.
“The abduction of monarchs is the order of the day in our country now. We urge the government to provide security for the lives and property of the citizens. It is their responsibility; it is a constitutional responsibility.
“Every government that fails to provide security for the lives of the citizens is no longer a government. What we are saying is simple, we are ready to face the government in this hardship and we are marathon runners.” (Agency Report).
