By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
It was protest galore in Ibadan as labour leaders and members as well as others embarked on massive protest on Wednesday in line with directives of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Secretariat in Abuja
As early as 7.30am, leaders and members of the participating bodies stormed the University of Ibadan gate in preparedness for the protest which commenced at 7.50am with various solidarity songs rejecting the increase in price of petrol arising from the subsidy removal
The protesters were also condemning what they termed anti people policies of the President Bola Tinubu administration, which they said, are killing innocent Nigerians gradually
Armed with placards having various inscriptions such as ” Tinubu, you are not fair to Nigerians masses”, ” Don’t kill us with anti people policies of your Govt”, “Just within 60 days, enough of these hardships”. ” Reverse the fuel Price increase”, ” Nigerians are suffering, stop the promises” among others.
The protesters while moving from one point to the other chanting anti government songs were urging Nigerians generally to join the labour movement in rejecting anti masses policies embarked upon by the President Tinubu led administration.
At the Oyo state Government Secretariat Agodi, the protesters joined the protesting Oyo state civil servants with abusive songs condemning the Oyo state government as well as the Federal government over the plight of Nigerians.
From the Oyo state Government Secretariat , the protesters headed to Mokola area of Ibadan and addressed traders at the Mokola under the overhead bridge on the need for Nigerians to protest against the various hardships brought with the policies of the new administration in the country.
Following the protest, the Oyo state Police command on Wednesday made known measures put in place by the Command to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties in the state,
the state Commissioner of Police, CP Adebola Hamzat in a statement on his behalf by the Oyo state Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Adewale Osifeso hinted that the security measures are to forestall any form of breach of public peace during the planned nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
According to the statement, CP Hamzat also deployed personnel of the state command to man critical infrastructure across the state and that the entire ten police Area Command in the state have received deployment of strategic operational intelligence assets for visible policing and public confidence building to ensure free movement.
“The Oyo State Police Command under the leadership of CP Adebola A. Hamzat has emplaced adequate security measures to ensure a peaceful procession in the State.
So also strategic operational and intelligence assets were deployed across the (10) Ten Area Commands in the State, evident through visibility policing and confidence building patrols .
” So also, the spotlight was beamed on Places of interests, critical infrastructures and landmarks.”
