Omoyele Sowore, the renowned human rights activist and Convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, has announced that the organizers of the recent #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest will relaunch their efforts on October 1 if their demands are not met by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
This declaration came during an interview on News Central TV, marking the conclusion of the previous 10-day nationwide demonstration, which sought to address critical governance issues facing Nigeria.
Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the Africa Action Congress (AAC), issued a clear ultimatum, stating, “If our demands are not met within the specified timeframe, we will resume the protest on October 1, or potentially earlier, depending on the prevailing circumstances.”
He emphasized the determination of the organizers, declaring that the protests would continue until their demands are met.
“When we start in October, we will not stop until these demands are met. Already, that conversation is going on, and more plans by the organizers will be announced to the general public.”
Highlighting the significance of the chosen date, Sowore remarked, “Yes, well their own Independence Day. We want to fight for real independence starting from that day.” This statement underscores the protesters’ aim to seek genuine liberation from poor governance as they align their actions with Nigeria’s Independence Day.
During the previous protest, participants presented a comprehensive 15-point demand to the Tinubu administration, addressing a range of pressing issues. Among the key demands is the call to “scrap the 1999 Constitution and replace it with a People-made Constitution for the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” advocating for a Sovereign National Conference followed by a national referendum.
- Additional demands include:
Abolishing the Senate while retaining the House of Representatives as a part-time legislative body. - Implementing a minimum wage of N250,000 for Nigerian workers.
- Investing heavily in education, providing grants to students, and ensuring free and compulsory education for all children.
- The unconditional release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other political detainees, along with calls for demilitarization in the South East.
- Re-nationalizing publicly owned enterprises and reinstating a corruption-free subsidy regime to combat poverty.
- Establishing a Special Energy Fund to enhance the power sector and reconstituting the Nigerian Electoral Body to eliminate corruption.
- Ensuring massive investments in public works, industrialization, and reforming the judiciary to enhance citizens’ access to justice.
- Extending voting rights to the Nigerian diaspora.
As the October 1 deadline approaches, the tension mounts, with many Nigerians standing in solidarity with the protesters, advocating for a transformative change in the governance of their nation. Sowore’s call to action reflects a growing discontent with the status quo and a desire for a more equitable and accountable government.
