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In Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, youths took to the streets on Monday to express their discontent over the surging prices of food items and the overall state of the economy.
Gathering around the Mokola area, the protesters brandished placards adorned with messages like ‘End food hike and inflation,’ ‘The poor are starving,’ and ‘Tinubu, don’t forget your promises,’ among others. Their voices echoed through the streets as they chanted songs to articulate their grievances.
The presence of armed policemen underscored the peaceful nature of the protest.
One protester, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasized the widespread impact of the economic challenges, stating, “The problem affects everyone. Every Nigerian should stand for their right and must collectively fight this high cost of living. We cannot afford three square meals.”
Quoting sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian constitution, he asserted the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression regarding economic hardship. “This protest is a continuous action, so expect protest from any angle. It is not about me alone but about Nigerians. We must collectively fight for this and make sure that things are brought back to normalcy,” he added.
Echoing similar sentiments, another protester named Barakat lamented the worsening hunger in the land, stating, “Everything is going out of hand. We can’t even complete two square meals. We voted Tinubu so that he can make corrections to Buhari’s wrong, but the problem has gone out of hand now.”