Residents, Youths, Drivers, Traders, artisans, students and members of the civil society organisations today trooped out in Akure, the Ondo State Capital to stage a peaceful protest to register their displeasure over the hardship occasioned by naira notes deadline and fuel scarcity ravaging the nation; SUNSHINETRUTH can report.
Our reporter who monitored the protest, observed that the mass protest which caused gridlock at the popular Road-Block/Oloko junction, along Akure/Ilesa expressway made travellers and residents plying the route to be stranded for several hours.
Men of the NSCDC, Police, and other security agencies provided security for the protesters.
The Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Mr Oyeyemi Oyediran who visited the scene, observed tight security beefed up to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the peaceful protest.
According to the organizers, the protest which began today, is expected to end on Friday while it will move to the Cathedral area in Akure on thursday and First Bank Alagbaka area on Friday.
Speaking on the protest, Yemi Fasipe, one of the youth leaders in Ondo state said, “the current hardship from the scarcity of naira and high price of petrol is causing frustration among our people.”
According to YemiFash, “the situation is uncomfortable for everybody. It has nothing to do with personality. No one has access to naira freely. We want to pass message that the government should be fast to tackle the issue.
“We also have a message for the Ondo State Government. We realised petrol dealers hike prices necessarily even when they got product at official price. We want the state government to set up a committee to monitor sales of petrol and also access to money. We want to be part of that committee.
“The government should do what is good for the masses. The masses are at the receiving end. This policy is too harsh. Old notes should be used alongside the new notes.”
Another protester, Omotayo Samuel, said they were passing the message that the people were not happy with the situation of these past days.
Samuel said “we are not happy. We are now buying naira. Government should reverse these policies. It is politics to change money at this time. Many people are suffering it is difficult to get money these days.
While Ilesanmi Ademola said, “we are doing this peaceful protest to tell the government that we want fuel and cash to be available. We have been hearing several youths want to disrupt the peace of the state and we do not want a repeat of Endsars.”
