Civil Society Organisations in Edo, today, Saturday, August 3,announced their withdrawal from the nationwide hunger protests, which began on Thursday, August 1, citing intelligence reports and the need to restrategise, for the withdrawal.
This is even as businesses opened on Lagos Street and in Oba Market this morning as residents used the opportunity to buy goods, especially food items, while vehicular and human movements also improved in the state capital.
One of the leaders of the CSOs, Curtis Ugbebor, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said: “At this juncture, due of intelligence report, the CSOs are withdrawing from the protest to strategize and that is not to say that Nigerians who wish to express themselves cannot do so.
“But I will want to say that we have achieved a lot and stated our demands, which we expect the government to look into. This has been achieved without bloodshed and destruction of properties
“We shall continue to ensure that the federal and state governments address the demand of Edo State citizens.”
Speaking in the same vein, another leader of the protest, Emmanuel Ogude, tasked the government to end hunger in the country, recommending that politicians should be made to earn the minimum wage.
“Every politician that wants to serve must be placed under the national minimum wage because there is hunger in the land. We want the electricity tariff and fuel price to be returned to where the administration met it. All federal roads leading to Edo State should be fixed with immediate effect. We want the government to adhere to our demand,” he said.
Nevertheless, protesters turned out in numbers at the designated King’s Square (Ring Road) venue of the protest, dancing to popular songs as they moved around the venue..
The police and other security agencies were on hand to provide security for the protesters and blocked all the entry points to the venue to prevent hoodlums from infiltrating the protest.
The appearance of a group that showed up midway into the protest, caused apprehension, with a member of the planning committee of the organizers, who gave his name as Ero, saying that the group had to be watched carefully because they were determined to keep the protest peaceful.
