‘This Wasn’t Tinubu’s Promise To Us’ — Osun Residents Join NLC’s Hardship Protest As Security Beefed Up Around Gov’t Assets

Security operatives including police, the Department of State Service and the Nigeria Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others, have tightened security around government assets as protesters shut down roads in the ongoing demonstration by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state.

THE WHISTLER observed that security operatives were stationed around strategic areas where government assets were domiciled in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

Places where armed security operatives manned include; Old-Garage, Oke-Fia, Ola-Iya, Aregbe, Dele-Yes-Sir, Government House and Secretariat, and Railway Station, among others.

The NLC, joined by Civil Society organisations, activists, youths, workers in informal sectors and others, thronged to major streets to protest against hardship and negative impacts of the Federal Government’s economic reforms.

The protesters converged at Nelson Mandela Park before they marched through Orisunmbare market after which they barricaded the popular Ola-Iya junction.

They denied motorists usage of the road.

The protesters were chanting anti-government songs while carrying placards, and handbills, including banners with several inscriptions.

Addressing the protesters; the Osun State Chairman of NLC, Christopher Arapasopo said, “There is a need for the federal government to come to the aid of Nigerians because people are suffering and dying, I could recollect during the electioneering campaign, the president himself said things will be easy but what we are experiencing now does not reflect his promise.

“Nigerians are dying and suffering, we can not afford to buy a carton of indomie in the market. Inflation is affecting everything in the market. He (President Tinubu) should do something and come to our aid. He should honour agreements signed between the organized Labour and Federal Government. You can see that the protest is very massive and highly organized but you know that a hungry man is an angry man, we appreciate security operatives for providing cover for the protest.”

Speaking with THE WHISTLER‘s correspondent, the spokesperson of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Kehinde Adeleke, warned hoodlums against hijacking the protest.

“The command has beefed up security in the state to ensure that protesters do not break laws and order also officers have been deployed to safeguard critical national assets and infrastructure

“The State Commandant, Michael Adaralewa, urged protesters to be wary of hoodlums while calling on unscrupulous elements that may want to hijack the protest to have a change of mind, saying anyone caught would be made to face the full wrath of the law.”