Omoyele Sowore, one of the key organizers of the nationwide hunger protest, has announced plans to take legal action against the Federal Government for the killing of protesters during the recent 10-day demonstrations. Speaking with Ismaeel Uthman, Sowore explained the motivations behind the #EndBadGovernance protests and criticized the government for its handling of the situation.
Sowore stated that the protest was driven by widespread economic hardship, including soaring inflation, currency devaluation, and high interest rates, which have made life increasingly difficult for ordinary Nigerians. He dismissed claims that the protest was politically motivated, emphasizing that people across all political affiliations were united in their grievances against the government.
Responding to incidents of looting and vandalism during the protests, Sowore blamed the government’s “high-handedness” for inciting violence, noting that security forces used water cannons, tear gas, and live bullets against peaceful protesters. He revealed that 17 protesters were killed by police during the demonstrations and vowed to seek justice for those affected.
Sowore also addressed the controversy surrounding the use of Russian flags by some protesters in Kano State, dismissing government claims of foreign involvement in the protests as laughable. He criticized the government’s swift action against those allegedly responsible for the flags, contrasting it with its failure to arrest sponsors of insurgency in the country.
Despite President Bola Tinubu’s call for the protests to end, Sowore defended the decision to continue the demonstrations, arguing that the government’s response had not addressed the underlying issues of hunger, poverty, and insecurity. He questioned whether any concrete actions had been taken to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and insisted that the protests would persist until meaningful changes were made.
News Editor