The nationwide protest, spearheaded by youth activist Deji Adeyanju, is set to commence today as planned, dismissing reports that it had been called off. Adeyanju, a prominent organizer, clarified early Thursday morning that no genuine participants have backed down from the protest, which aims to address the numerous challenges facing Nigeria.
Recent reports suggested that youth groups under the banner of Rising Up for a United Nigeria had allegedly decided to cancel the protest after a meeting in Abuja, claiming that President Bola Tinubu was committed to resolving the country’s issues. However, Adeyanju refuted these claims, asserting that those withdrawing were never part of the protest to begin with.
“None of the organisers have pulled out of the protest. The people pulling out are just people who have gone to collect money. They were never part of the protest initially,” Adeyanju stated.
He reiterated that the protest would proceed as planned, highlighting the widespread readiness of Nigerians to join in. Adeyanju urged participants to remain peaceful during the demonstrations to ensure their safety and the success of their cause.
In preparation for the protest, Adeyanju revealed that a letter was sent to the Chief of Army Staff on July 30, 2024, requesting the restriction of army personnel to their barracks. The letter, titled ‘Request to Restrict Men of the Nigerian Army to the Barracks During the Scheduled August 2024 National Protest,’ aims to prevent a recurrence of the violence witnessed during the EndSARS protests.
“We have just written to the Chief of Army Staff to ensure soldiers remain in the barracks during the protest to prevent a repeat of the killing of protesters like during EndSARS,” the letter stated.
