Despite President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast on the occasion of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, protests broke out in Yobe State on Thursday, with hundreds of youths from the various political parties, saying that the broadcast did not address their grievance.
The peaceful protest, which was tagged: ‘Tinubu Must Go!’, took off from Potiskum Local Government Area.
One of the protesters said since taking Bola Tunubu office in 2023, his administration has faced economic and insecurity challenges, leading to protests in the country.
The peaceful demonstration was aimed at drawing attention to the current economic challenges and demanding better leadership for the Nigerian people.
The rally was organised by the ADC Youth Leader in Potiskum town, Umaru Dunda, and was conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner.
Some of the youths said to be loyal to the different political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to go, due to the poor leadership.
The youths, who were on the street, said they were saddened and come to the streets to demonstrate against what they referred to as an attempt by Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to destroy the country’s economic and education system.
”We came out today to express our fundamental rights, free of speech. We are suffering from this government, people are dead, insecurity, poverty and unemployment in the land,” a protester said.
Most of the protesters, who were young men and women were carrying ADC flags, describing it as a symbol of resilience and doggedness in their struggle to save the country from destruction
”APC must understand that political calculations should be beyond frustration and intimidation. Arresting people for peacefully expressing their political interests will not stop them or silence opposing voices. Rather, such actions could create more resentment, attract greater attention to the campaign and encourage even more people to express their dissatisfaction. Democracy thrives on tolerance, not intimidation,” another protester said.
An eyewitness in Tsohowar Kasuwa Potiskum, Mallam Gambo, said that that large number of youth took to the streets to protest hunger against bad governance, hunger, insecurity and hardship, among others.
The agitators were seen displaying an ADC flag, saying they have called to Atiku Abubakar to help.
ADC Potiskum, Youth leader, Hon Umar Dunda, has appealed to the youths, women and all Nigerians to join hands to defeat APC in the forthcoming general elections in 2027 in the interest of the people.
He called on the teeming youths from all over Nigeria to vote for change.
”We need change. APC has failed woefully. There is nothing to speak about – poverty everywhere,” he said, adding that the APC government, under Tinubu, is a failed government.