Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, attributed the country’s hardships to the Federal Government’s policies in a statement on Sunday, coinciding with hunger protesters holding a street church service.
According to The PUNCH, Obaseki emphasized that his administration had introduced several initiatives to alleviate the difficulties faced by Edo residents due to the Federal Government’s policies.
Among these were increasing the minimum wage to N70,000 to enhance workers’ purchasing power, launching a free transport scheme on Edo City Transport Service routes, extending free Wi-Fi to public areas to support telecommuting, and initiating a state-wide feeding program for vulnerable populations in collaboration with Christian and Muslim institutions.
Obaseki stated, “The protest is obviously the result of the difficult living conditions which Nigerians have had to endure particularly over the last one year, arising from various policies that have been implemented by the Federal Government. These policies have taken a severe toll on citizens who have had to endure astronomic high food prices, high transportation costs, galloping inflation and loss of operating capital by small business owners across the country. In Edo State, we have taken several actions within our constitutional authority to reduce the suffering and hardship of our people by showing empathy and supporting our people to weather and survive this trying time despite the challenges witnessed across the nation.”
During the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, demonstrators in Edo State continued their activities on Sunday, incorporating a church service on the road.
While some Civil Society Organisations paused their participation on Saturday, awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address, protesters at Agho Junction on Ekehuan Road conducted a service with singing and dancing, demanding an end to bad governance.
The road was barricaded, restricting vehicle movement, and soldiers were observed patrolling major roads to clear any obstructions.
Coordinator of the Edo State Civil Society Organisation, Agho Omobude, declared the protest would persist for 10 days as the President had not addressed the protesters’ concerns.
