Organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protests against economic hardship have stated that the nationwide protest, which entered their second day on Friday, will continue until President Bola Tinubu addresses their demands.
Adegboruwa said on Friday, “Though the intention of the organisers was to achieve peaceful and well-coordinated protests, it would seem that fifth columnists and some angry persons infiltrated the ranks of the protesters to derail their laudable mission,” a statement by Adegboruwa on Friday said.
“I appeal to the protesters to withdraw themselves from their various protest grounds and to suspend the protests immediately and indefinitely, to give room for meaningful dialogue and engagement with the government.
“Given that the protests were said to have been hijacked by sponsored agents, it is necessary to avoid further losses and casualties.
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But the Director of Mobilisation of #TakeItBackMovement, a non-governmental organisation, Damilare Adenola, on Channels Television’s The August Protests program on Friday, said his group would continue with the protest.
Adenola clarified that human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa does not represent his group, despite the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) having written to security agencies to seek protection for them before the rallies.
He emphasized that his group would not suspend the 10-day protests, despite Adegboruwa’s pleas to call off the demonstrations due to the infiltration of fifth columnists aiming to cause havoc.
Adenola asserted, “Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa is not our lawyer and he doesn’t speak for us. He might have presented himself as the solicitor but he is not hungry. He is a senior advocate of Nigeria who lives well. He is not hungry like the people taking over the streets.”
He reiterated the group’s determination to continue the protests until their demands are met by the government. “We are waiting for the government to respond to us and address our demands. And until then, the protests continue,” he said, adding that although the demands of the protesters have not been addressed, the protests have made a statement to the government of the day.
Adenola highlighted that the protests have demonstrated to Nigerians that they can hold their leaders accountable. When asked if the protests were sponsored by any entity, he replied that the true sponsors of the protests were hunger and economic deprivation.
He concluded that if the Federal Government was sincere and concerned about the plight of the people, the President would have already addressed the protesters’ demands.
