The RevolutionNow movement has resumed its daily protests against bad governance amid ongoing economic hardships in Nigeria. Led by the National Students’ Take It Back Movement, under the direction of Oguntola Sunday, the protesters claimed that some hoodlums exploited the absence of security escorts to launch an attack on them.
Wearing identical orange caps, the group engaged in a brief confrontation with police, who noted that the protesters had not formally requested protection. After this, they marched from Freedom Park through Old Garage and MDS to the well-known Olaiya flyover, singing various solidarity songs.
Speaking to the press after the protest, Sunday emphasized that the group believed they did not require police permission to demonstrate and would persist in their actions until President Bola Tinubu addressed their concerns regarding the economy. He criticized the Tinubu administration, labeling it “autocratic and failed,” and underscored the need for the government to understand the suffering of the populace.
“Our goal is to end hunger, starvation, and the hardship inflicted on the masses by the APC-led government, headed by incapacitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He has demonstrated that he is a failed leader. Over the coming months, we will continue to agitate for a better Nigeria. All we want is a country that works for everyone, not just a select few,” he stated.
Sunday reported that the Nigerian Police Force arrived in significant numbers to prevent the protest, even seizing a vehicle rented for the event, along with the sound equipment and DJ. He asserted that the protesters made it clear they did not need permission from the police to hold a peaceful demonstration.
“We told them plainly that hijacking our vehicle does not stop us from holding a protest,” he said. Sunday also recounted an incident in which a vehicle intentionally drove into their group, but fortunately, there were no casualties. He reiterated their commitment to protesting daily until the President responds to their demands.