Democracy Day: Protesters speak out against poverty, hardship, unemployment

Protesters under the Edo State Civil Society Organisation, on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to put an end suffering of the masses, advising the need to formulate and advance policies that would better the lot of Nigerians.

One of the leaders of EDOSCO, Kola Edokpayi, who stated this at a protest/rally organised by the organisation in Benin, said they came out to vent their frustration over the state of the nation.

He said, ‘We totally reject this brand of democracy being practised in the country. This democracy is not for the people, it is against the people. We cannot continue to be silent in the midst of poverty, hardship and unemployment.

‘The reason why we are out today is to vent our frustration over the state of the nation. The masses are suffocating due to the iron grip of hunger, poverty and economic downturn under President Bola Tinubu.

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‘We are saying that this country should be fixed so that we can avoid agitation for self-determination as witnessed in the South East, with people in that region saying they are not part of Nigeria.

‘Those piloting the affairs of the country have failed woefully. These people travel abroad and see how things work there unfortunately, they replicate what they see here.

‘We call on the government to end the suffering of the masses and institute policies that will better the lot of Nigerians.

‘The leaders know the solution. We want them to give us employment and create an enabling environment for investors to come into the country.

‘They must halt insecurity and fix power. Why are they increasing tariffs when the power supply is epileptic? The suffering must end so that the masses will stop agitating for their rights.”