The #EndBadGovernance movement in Nigeria, which saw nationwide protests from August 1 to 10, 2024, is gearing up for another round of demonstrations in October.
The organizers, led by the Director of Mobilisation of the Take It Back Movement, Damilare Adenola, have confirmed that the upcoming protests will be called the "Fearless in October Protest."
Adenola emphasized that their demands remain unchanged unless new issues arise, stating, "Our charter of demands stands as same. If at all, we will add more as the country decays more."
The protesters' demands are extensive and include the immediate and unconditional release of all EndSARS and political detainees, the scrapping of the Senate arm of the National Assembly, making law-making a part-time job for the House of Representatives, paying Nigerian workers a minimum of N250,000, and reversing fuel prices and electricity tariffs to pre-January 2023 levels.
Despite government efforts to dissuade the youth from protesting, the movement has gained significant traction. Activist and Human Rights Lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, highlighted ongoing efforts to secure the release of those arrested during the previous protests, stating, "All efforts are being directed towards securing the release of those that have been arrested."
The protests are rooted in deep-seated issues of bad governance, corruption, and economic hardship. Since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power in 2015, Nigeria has faced worsening economic crises, political instability, pervasive insecurity, and endemic corruption.
The eight years under President Buhari's regime saw the systematic destruction of democratic institutions and a disregard for the rights of Nigerians. President Tinubu, who assumed office on May 29, 2023, inherited a nation in dire need of redemption but has yet to address the protesters' demands meaningfully.
The #EndBadGovernance movement is not just a reaction to specific policies but a challenge to the very foundations of Nigeria’s political system. The protesters, with 19 specific demands, are calling for comprehensive reform and real accountability in governance.
Despite President Tinubu’s appeal on August 4th to pause the protests and open a dialogue, the demonstrations continued, highlighting the resilience and democratic spirit of the Nigerian people.
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