Those Against Protest Are Enemies of Citizens’ Rights – Nigerian Workers

The All Workers Convergence (AWC) has declared that opposing the planned nationwide protest against hunger is an act of hostility towards the people. This statement was issued by Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of AWC, on Monday.

The protest, scheduled to begin on August 1st, has faced criticism from some individuals and groups. However, the AWC defended the demonstration, stating that protests against bad governance, hunger, and insecurity are fundamental rights of the citizens.

“The protest is a revolt against hunger and a rebellion against hardship. Anyone who opposes the planned protest is an enemy of the people,” the statement read.

The group emphasized the urgency of the protest due to the severe challenges currently faced by Nigerians. “We have been calling for protests and we shall continue to call for them until the system works for the public good,” Emelieze stated. “We are in full support of the calls by Nigerians for a massive protest to end hunger, hardship, and bad governance in Nigeria.”

The AWC highlighted the despair among Nigerians, noting that many are considering leaving the country due to the poor state of governance. “Our people have lost hope in the system. All our able-bodied citizens are either leaving or planning to leave the country. Our people are being daily strangled by bad governance. Our government keeps telling us the same old story.”

Criticizing the government for its failure to address the needs of the masses while a few enjoy excessive wealth, the AWC stated, “While the majority of our people endure hardship, our rulers and a select few are immersed in unimaginable wealth and wastage of national resources. Governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has brought untold hardship to our people. Everything is now upside down. It appears governance under Tinubu has collapsed.”

The AWC urged all citizens to join the protest, emphasizing its legality and necessity. “Protest everywhere is a fundamental human right. Protest is lawful. Protest is not a crime. Protest is a duty of all citizens. We shall protest, no going back. We salute the courage of our people as we all continue to mobilize for action on the day.”

“It is time to emancipate Nigeria from corruption, bad governance, and exploitation. We call for synergy among all the organizers of this protest. We shall overcome. No retreat, no surrender.”