#EndBadGovernance Protest Put on Hold by Organizers in Lagos

The organisers of the #EndBadGovernance protest in Lagos has announced a temporary suspension of their activities.

This decision was made to evaluate the progress of the protest and to develop new strategies moving forward.

Comrade Hassan Taiwo Soweto, one of the key organisers, emphasized that the protesters would not yield to threats from security operatives. He stated, "We decided to take the day off to enable us to assess progress and to also restrategize. We won’t bow to any idle threat."

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, had earlier declared that protests were outlawed in the state following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's speech on Sunday.

Fayoade mentioned, "The organizers have decided to call off the protest. They said they are looking at the President meeting their demands. So in view of this, there will be no more gathering at the Gani Fawahimi Freedom Park at Ojota or anywhere in the state.

Any such gathering is now unlawful and illegal, and if such gathering exists, we are going to apply the full weight of the law."

Despite these statements, Soweto clarified that the break did not signify an end to the protests but rather a pause for strategic planning. He assured that an announcement regarding the next steps would be made before the close of work on Tuesday.

Additionally, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, the solicitor to the organisers, called for the suspension of the protest, citing concerns that it had been hijacked by hoodlums. He urged the protesters to withdraw and engage in meaningful dialogue with the government to avoid further losses and casualties.

Adegboruwa criticized President Tinubu for not addressing the issues raised by the protesters, despite being notified weeks in advance. He called on the President to directly address the nation and engage with the protest representatives.

This development comes amid widespread criticism from various quarters, including the People's Democratic Party (PDP), which lambasted President Tinubu for his failure to address the nation over the ongoing protests.