The August 1st Nigeria #EndBadGovernance Nationwide Protest?-?Abuja Edition.
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(A factual testament from an actual observer at the protest ground).
The nationwide protest was to commence on August 1 to address fuel scarcity and bad governance experienced by Nigerians in the country. The protest, which started on a beautiful Thursday morning, on the 1st of August, at Moshood Abiola Stadium, FCT. Abuja, around 9 in the morning, was heavily guarded by Force personnel of different parastatals, from the police to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense officers, and military personnel armed to the teeth.
Two distinct groups of protesters were present during the event. One group carried placards with messages such as "We are hungry" and "End bad governance," while the other group appeared disheveled and disorganized, chanting "NO PROTEST," serving as a counter to the first group.
And Because of the confusion in the crowd, the first protesters (i.e., the EndBadGovernance protesters) defied the court order and beckoned to march from the Moshood Abiola Stadium to Eagle Square, as they strongly believed Eagle Square would be a broader tentacle for government officials to hear their plea and also separate themselves from the counter-protesters
While they marched to Eagle Square, most of the security operatives also followed suit. While some other people joined the protest, mostly local women and young northern boys, judging from the language and their outfits, some were, however, on-lookers, either in their cars showing solidarity by waving leaves or standing over the overhead bridge with phones filming the protest while waving leaves in solidarity with the protest.
The demographic of the protesters largely consisted of individuals from lower social classes, with a few from the middle class and very few from the upper class. Just before reaching Eagle Square, there was a notable influx of participants from the northern lower social class who joined the demonstration.
Further investigation revealed that some of the anti-protesters I had earlier encountered in the early hours of the protest at the Moshood Abiola stadium joined in the End Bad Governance protest when they noticed no one paid attention to them and the majority of their folks were now disregarding their work. Some of the then-protesters (anti-protesters) complained bitterly about receiving some amount from certain persons to carry out the anti-protesters' placards, and this is further evident in some of the interviews conducted for the anti-protesters in other Nigerian states.
However, the peaceful protest turned violent when the protesters hit the junction with Eagle Square, as some of the police officers were observed shooting tear gas to disperse and disorganize the peaceful protesters.
Despite the circumstances, the agitated protesters appeared determined, as many returned to the scene multiple times?-?up to four occasions. This persistence led to confrontations with police, resulting in some protesters being detained and subsequently released after being subjected to physical force and tear gas. The use of tear gas caused various mild injuries among the demonstrators, including red eyes, swollen faces, and breathing difficulties, with some fainting. In many cases, fellow protesters revived those who fainted by using premium motor spirit or applying petroleum jelly to their faces.
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Amid the chaos, some lower-class citizens from the northern regions attempted to retaliate against the police's tear gas with stones, but they were quickly advised against this by protest organizers and other concerned individuals, most of whom complied. As the tear gas continued to be deployed, a few courageous yet frustrated protesters began to pick up the hot canisters with their bare hands, throwing them back at the police or targeting the nearby secretariat building, which created further tension the protesters to yearn for their plea.
however, the police barricaded the T-junction, which led to the Eagle Square, with thick barbed wire to prevent the protesters from crossing over. The police officer also chased this observer after trying to make records of the activities of the protest in a retractable car (cars with an open and closed rooftop).
In the course of documenting this report, it was alleged that police pursued a vehicle due to a protester, who was standing in the car's open roof and waving a Nigerian flag, chanting "End Bad Governance" and "We Are Hungry."
The chase lasted for several minutes until the car made a quick 360-degree turn and headed down a quiet lane towards the central mosque. The protest, which began at 9 AM, remained active by 2 PM, with a growing number of participants. Shops were closed, businesses ceased operations, construction activities were stalled, the Central Business District was nearly deserted, and only a few vehicles, marked with leave cards in solidarity, were observed moving through the area.
The protest is set to be scheduled for 10 days, from August 1st to 10th, across Abuja and various states, particularly in Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, and Kano. The demonstrators are committed to maintaining a peaceful approach. Any instances of violence from protesters in any region do not accurately represent their genuine intentions.
Protesters are encouraged to uphold their civil and fundamental rights while ensuring compliance with court directives and their civic responsibilities. The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Egbetokun, has assured that the rights of protesters will be safeguarded and that there will be no infringement upon their fundamental freedoms.
By uniting our voices, we can strive to create "The Nigeria We Want." A better world is achievable when we set aside tribal, religious, and other biases, prioritizing love and unity in our interactions. This commitment allows us to contribute meaningfully, and that way, we can say we have done our best to promote humanity and true democracy.