OYO state: Civil societies declared support for August 1-10 protest

29th July, 2024

Press Statement

OYO STATE: COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS DECLARED SUPPORT FOR THE AUGUST 1-10 PEACEFUL PROTEST AND AGREED ON ACTIVITIES TO ENGAGE OTHER NIGERIANS SUPPORTING THE PROTEST!

A meeting of coalition of a number of civil society and pro-students organizations in Oyo State held on Sunday,

28th July, 2024 to discuss the looming protest against hunger and hardship reportedly scheduled to commence from 1st of August to 10th August. 2024. After hours of intense deliberations, the meeting resolved as follows:

(1) The protest against hunger and hardship is wholeheartedly supported by the coalition. This is despite the fact that none of the constituent organization in the coalition is involve in the call for the protest. The coalition therefore, notes that the prevailing condition of mass misery and poverty amidst abundant wealth largely occasioned by various anti-poor capitalist policies of the Nigeria government is enough and sufficient justification for a call for the protest.

(2.)To this extent, the coalition shall organise a press conference on Tue, 30th July, 2024 to officially declare its support to the looming protest against hardship and publicly announce a number of activities and plans to initiate the process of engaging every other Nigerian supporting the call for the protest.

(3.) The coalition hereby enjoins all Nigerian working people and youths who are fed up with the situation of the country, not to be intimidated by the scare antics of the regime. Rather they should create time to attend the press conference and identify with other activities planned to be organized by the coalition to support the call for the protest.

(4) As much as the coalition is committed to a peaceful protest, it holds that it’s not the responsibility of the prospective protesters but that of the Nigeria government and the security agencies to assure the general public that the protest will not degenerate into violence. The few previous violent-turn of peaceful protest were instigated by the Nigeria government either through the security agencies or hired political thugs to create a basis and justification for state repression. The obvious lack of serious commitment on the side of the Nigeria government and its security agencies to end the increasing scale of violence, kidnapping and killing of citizens bedeviling the country today shows that all of the propaganda around a possible violence-turn of the looming protest is just an attempt to criminalize protest.

(5) The coalition warns against any form of state repression and provocation and urges the constituent organizations and groups to begin mobilization of their members and all Nigerians suffering under the yoke of the anti-poor policies of the Tinubu administration to strengthen the coalition support for the looming protest against hardship and hunger.

Amandhla! Awethu!

Signed.

Joint Action Front (JAF)

Socialist Labour

All workers convergence

Centre for a popular Education, CEPED

CSATF

NATA/ITESIWAJU OYO

PAM