..Demand Tinubu’s Sack

…As Youths Below Age 13 Form 10% Of Protesters

By Daniel Abia, P/Harcourt

The evolving social unrest triggered by protests against hunger and bad governance is gradually becoming more volatile by the day in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital and its environs as angry-looking youths blocked a section of the busy East-West Road, NTA road and another major axis in Rivers State. 

Sensing a possible breakdown of law and order on Tuesday, the Rivers State Police Command has restricted the protest to two venues including the recreational Isaac Boro Park and the Pleasure Park both in the city centre of the state capital. 

 Also, the protesters who defied the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to end the protest have shared themselves into various groups burning more tyres and threatening any vehicle without a green leaf fixed in the front burner to clear and park. 

As early as 9 am on Tuesday the protesters had blocked the Obiri-Ikwere axis of the East-West Road and the  Rumuokoro end leaving motorists stranded with long queues due to traffic jams. 

The protesters sang anti-government songs and called on President Tinubu to resign. One of the protesters simply identified as Igbaki, vowed, “We will not get tired of this protest till day ten. We are tired and hungry and we say no to bad governance in Nigeria. 

“The President’s broadcast is nothing to write home about because he didn’t address any of the issues we raised for embarking on this protest. Tinubu must go, he has failed Nigerians and the entire world”.

Some of the protesters made quick business selling leaves to owners of vehicles trapped in the gridlock for between N100 and N200 while others attempted to drag the drivers to clear off the way and join the procession. 

The other group of protesters converged at the Federal Secretariat and moved to the Ikwerre Road axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt as traffic built up in the area, while many vehicles made U-turns to their destinations. 

Most disturbing is that some of the protesting groups had youths below the ages of 10 and 13 years brandishing green leaves, planks and other dangerous weapons threatening innocent people on the road and looting any item particularly edible goods displayed on the roadside for sale.

Despite their ages, they were also singing the “Tinubu Must Go” songs and looking very frightful.

Reacting to the development, the spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the restriction of the protesting venue is because the youths are infringing on the rights of others. 

“We have restricted the protest to the Isaac Boro Park and the Pleasure Park to prevent a breakdown of law and order. 

“As we speak, they have started infringing on the rights of others and we (Police) will not allow that. We are calling on them to stay with these two venues or else anyone that flouts this order will be arrested and prosecuted”.

Speaking, a popular comedian, K. O Baba has called on the protesters to restrict themselves to the Federal Secretariat axis of Aba Road and warned against unlawful acts such as looting, extortion and harassment of motorists and business owners.