A COALITION of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has thrown its weight behind the 10-day nationwide planned protest against hunger and hardship billed to commence from August 1-10, 2024.
The coalition, composed of the Joint Action Front (JAF), Education Rights Campaign (ERC), PRP Vanguard, Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM), Amilcar Cabral Ideological School Movement (ACIS-M), Youth Rights Campaign (YRC), Movement for African Emancipation (MAE), and Campaign for Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR), said in a statement on Monday “to ensure the success of the peaceful protest actions everywhere we can across the country.”
While enjoining all Nigerians, particularly the “youth who are fed up with the situation of the country not to allow themselves to be intimidated by the scare tactics of the regime,” the CSOs express the “desire to collaborate with all other groups for a successful shutdown of Lagos and other states across the country,” just as they vowed to embark on immediate liaison with other groups to forge unity around the goal of the struggle.
The statement, entitled: “Resolution to Shutdown Lagos From August 1-10 in Peaceful Protest at the Condition of Hunger and Hardship In Nigeria,” reads:
“Yesterday, till late, the June 12 protest coalition met to discuss the August protest against hunger and hardship and what needs to be done. Several youth, Socialist, civil societies and trade union organizations were present at the meeting. After about 4 hours of deliberation, the meeting agreed as follows:
“(1) That we wholeheartedly support the planned August 1-10 nationwide protest against hunger and hardship as it shows that following our protest on June 12, many suffering Nigerian youth and working masses are now ready to resist the anti-poor capitalist policies of the Tinubu administration. To this extent, this coalition will change its whatsapp group name to reflect the new phase of our struggle.
“(2) That this coalition will immediately undertake the task, in collaboration with all change-seeking organizations, groups and individuals, to ensure the success of the peaceful protest actions everywhere we can across the country.
“(3) To this extent, the coalition has agreed to 7am Ikeja under-bridge as the take off point of the peaceful protest in Lagos State.
“(4) We enjoin all Nigerian people and youth who are fed up with the situation of the country not to allow themselves to be intimidated by the scare tactics of the regime. Rather they should all join us at the take off point for a peaceful protest. Take off points by the coalition and its allies in other states of the federation will be announced in due course.
“(5) The coalition expresses its desire to collaborate with all other groups for a successful shutdown of Lagos and other states across the country. Accordingly, we shall embark on immediate liaison with other groups to forge unity around the goal of the struggle.
“(6) A press conference shall be held on Tuesday 30 July 2024 to make these declarations known to the world.
“(7) A 5-member working committee has been set up to draw up a detailed plan and carry out other functions to ensure the success of the protest in Lagos.
“(8) The coalition assures all security agencies that our intention is a peaceful protest. Nevertheless, a legal response team is being set up in case of any arrest and crackdown on the peaceful protest.
“(9) All organizations and groups are hereby enjoined to begin mobilization of their members and all Nigerians suffering under the yoke of the anti-poor policies of the Tinubu administration for a successful outing on the days of the protest.”
