Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Edo announced their withdrawal from the nationwide protest against poor governance and hunger on Saturday.
At a press conference in Benin, Curtis Ugbebor, one of the protest leaders, cited an intelligence report and the need for strategic reassessment as reasons for the withdrawal.
Ugbebor emphasized, “At this juncture, due to an intelligence report, the CSOs are withdrawing from the protest to strategize further. However, this does not preclude other Nigerians from expressing their views.”
He highlighted the successes of the protest, noting that their demands were clearly articulated without resulting in violence or property damage.
“We have achieved a lot and made our demands known. We expect the government to address these issues. Our focus remains on ensuring that both federal and state governments address the concerns of Edo State citizens.”
Another protest leader, Emmanuel Ogude, urged the government to address the pressing issue of hunger, suggesting that politicians should be paid the national minimum wage.
“Every politician aiming to serve should be compensated at the national minimum wage due to the widespread hunger.
We demand a rollback of electricity tariffs and fuel prices to their previous levels and immediate repairs to all federal roads leading to Edo State. We call on the government to meet our demands.”
Despite the withdrawal of the CSOs, the protest continued at Ring Road with demonstrators dancing to popular music and marching around the area. The organizers expressed concerns over a new group that appeared during the protest, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace.
Security personnel, including the police, were present to protect the protesters and secure the venue, blocking entry points to prevent disturbances.
Businesses on Lagos Street and Oba Market were operational, and the protest contributed to increased commercial activity and improved traffic flow in the area.
