Organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest have decided to suspend their hunger protest following the ongoing Osun-Osogbo Festival in Osun State.
The annual Osun-Osogbo International Festival, which began three weeks ago, will culminate on Friday, August 9, 2024, with a procession of the maiden calabash bearer and other participants to the Osun Grove.
The protest Coordinator in Osun, Ajala Adetunji, handed over their demands to Deputy Governor Mr. Kola Adewusi.
Adewusi, representing Governor Ademola Adeleke, assured the protesters that their demands would be presented to President Bola Tinubu at the next National Economic Council meeting in Abuja.
“On behalf of the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, I want to thank you for being peaceful since the protest commenced. You are not fighting for yourself but the entire people of the state. We all know what is happening in the country,” Adewusi said. He added, “We’ve received your request, and I want to promise you that the Governor will present it at the next National Economic Council meeting.”
After the day’s activities, Adetunji and other protest leaders announced the suspension of the protest to allow for the peaceful celebration of the Osun-Osogbo Festival.
“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 protest is incidentally taking place in Osogbo which is of concern,” Adetunji said.
He continued, “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.”
Adetunji also urged concerned citizens to remain committed to their demands. “While we salute the courage of peaceful protesters, we urge concerned citizens to remain resolute on our demands and continue to ventilate the same while planning for the next stage of the struggle should the demands not be met,” he added.
