The ongoing #EndBadGovernance nationwide protest has been suspended in Osun State.
The suspension is due to the upcoming 2024 Osun Osogbo festival, OsunDailyNG learnt.
The grand finale of the annual festival is slated for Friday, August 9, 2024.
OsunDailyNG also learnt that the decision was revealed by the organisers of the protest in the state after they presented a protest letter to the state governor, Ademola Adeleke.
The letter was received on behalf of Governor Adeleke by his deputy, Kola Adewusi, at the State Secretariat, Abere, on Tuesday.
Adewusi, upon receiving the letter, assured that the letter would be delivered to President Bola Tinubu by the governor.
“I assure you that Governor Ademola Adeleke will deliver the letter to President Bola Tinubu and also do everything possible to continue delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state,” he stated.
The protesters, under the aegis of the Coalition for Concerned Nigerian Citizens, Osun State, through Adetunji Ajala, had, during a press briefing in Osogbo, declared that the demonstration was suspended indefinitely.
Ajala said: “We, the coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens, the organising body of the EndBadGovernance protest in Osun State, wish to address the public and the media regarding the ongoing protest, which began on the 1st of August 2024 and marks its 6th day today.
“Since the inception of this peaceful protest, we have made our demands clear, seeking immediate action from our leaders to address the pressing issues affecting the citizens of our beloved state and country.
“We acknowledge the recent address by the President of Nigeria; however, we express our profound disappointment as the president’s speech failed to address any of our specific demands. Despite this setback, today, we successfully presented our demands to the Governor of Osun State through the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government, who told us that the governor would forward our demands to the Federal Executive Council.
“Furthermore, we reviewed the security situation vis-a-vis the Osun Osogbo festival presently ongoing at Osogbo. It is worthy of note to establish that the protest is incidentally taking place in Osogbo, which is of concern.
“Considering the safety of the influx of tourists coming for the global Osun Osogbo festival and the possibility of hoodlums disguising as tourists and unleashing attacks on peaceful protesters amidst other security concerns, we consider it imperative to put the protest on hold today, 6th August 2024.”
OsunDailyNG had reported that the protest against hunger and bad governance started nationwide on Thursday, August 1, 2024, and would end, according to organisers, on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
Also, the protest in Osun State has been peaceful, as no incidents, clashes with security operatives or looting were recorded.
