EndBadGovernance Protest Is A Fight Against Poverty And Starvation, Not The Nigerian State, Pan-Yoruba Group Asserts.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Comrade Wale Balogun, National Coordinator of the Yoruba Revolutionary Movement (YOREM), has called for a respectful and restrained approach by Nigerian security forces during the national ‘Day Of Rage’ protests scheduled from August 1 to 10, 2024.
Speaking at a press conference held at the International Press Centre in Lagos on July 27, 2024, Balogun emphasized the need for non-violence.
He appealed to security personnel to remember that the protesters are their own families and friends, and urged them not to view the protests as a personal attack against them or the state.
Balogun noted the shared hardships between protesters and security forces, both suffering from governmental mismanagement and corruption.
He urged the security forces to exercise restraint, acknowledging that the protests aim to highlight widespread suffering and demand the responsible use of national resources.
“The protesters are not fighting against the Nigerian state,” Balogun said. “We are simply declaring ‘Enough is enough’ to the hunger, starvation, and deprivation that persist despite our nation’s wealth. We seek to ensure that our resources benefit everyone equally.”
He added that the protesters are also victims of the same corruption affecting the security forces.
YOREM’s message is a call for empathy and solidarity, stressing that the protests are a peaceful demand for justice and equitable resource distribution.
Balogun further dismissed claims that the protests are aimed at advancing narrow Yoruba interests.
He highlighted the Yoruba’s historical role in resisting exploitation and corruption, asserting that the current struggle is part of a broader fight against the corrupt elite responsible for widespread hardship.
The movement’s appeal to the security forces is for understanding and collaboration in addressing shared challenges, reinforcing that the protests are a legitimate call for systemic change rather than an assault on the state itself.
