All roads leading to Abuja from kogi state yesterday were shot down by the combined efforts of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Trade Union Congress TUC and the civil society groups as the mother of all protests kicked off Monday across the country.
Not spared by the action of the protesters who conducted themselves in an orderly manners includes Lord Lugard House the state seat of government and the deputy governor’s office which were deserted by the staff as combat ready policemen had cordon off the premises.
The closure of the road and Jamata bridge by the labour was as a result of nation wide strike embark upon by the people of Nigeria following the removal of oil subsidy by the federal government.In lokoja the state capital as early as 6am the demonstrators led by the state Chairman of NLC, Comrade James Odawudu and his counterpart from TUC, Comrade Abdul Ganiyu had converged at the popular Obasanjo square told the gathering to brace up to defend their rights against the draconian policy of increase of pump price.
The protesters in a procession like blocked roads leading to the state capital from the South and North bringing all business activities to a halt by the strike.Shops, banks, Ministries, markets, Schools and hospitals were all closed down as people had to trek to their various destinations even as the protesters marched to government house urging the governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris to call president Goodluck Jonathan to order by reverting to the old pump price.
Speaking to the moment one of the protesters simply identified as Monday lamented at the flagrant violation of the rights of Nigerians by unilaterally increased the price when negotiations with organized labor. He added that unless the government reverses the price he may be surprise of the outcome of the protest saying that he should be reminded of history that the people had dismantled government and empires. Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, who came to the state yesterday did not issue any statement as gates to his official residence was firmly locked.
In Kabba headquarters of kogi west and okene headquarters of central as well as Anyigba in the East the placard carrying protesters demands for the removal of Okonjo Iweala minister of finance while calling Jonathan administration as failures.
The placards carried by the protesters read thus “Jonathan you are failure”, You are not a good leader step aside now before it is too late”, Tell your Prime Minister Okonjo Iweala to leave us alone”, Finance Minister you can’t enslave Nigerian economy for western world”
Motorists both commercial and private were off the road while armed Mobile Police patrol the street to forestall possible break down of law and order.Addressing the protesters comrade James Odaudu of the NLC advised them to be orderly not to give room for the street urchins to hijack the protest for the security agents to capitalized on it to cause confusion saying that unless the government return to N65 naira they were prepared to stay in the scorching sun.
Meanwhile no lives was lost as at the time of filing this report as both the protester and the security forces conducted themselves in a best standard practices during mass protests.
