Anti- Buhari Protest: How Uyo residents occupied IbomPlaza

Not unfazed by the cancellation of the Anti- Buhari Protest by the originator, popular Nigerian singer Tuface, a few residents of Uyo stormed the popular Ibom Plaza to register their displeasure at the Buhari led government in a peaceful protest.

Although reports indicated that hundreds of Nigerians marched through the streets of Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt in protest, the crowd in Uyo was scanty as a few residents who apparently didn’t want the city to be left out in the historic protest, turned-up  and demonstrated against the economic hardship in the country.

Toyo Jimmy, a young lawyer who led the protest, said the mobilisation was done under the aegis of One Voice Nigeria, Akwa Ibom section.

“Nigerians are suffering, and there are no clear-cut policies and programmes from the government to address the problems in this country. Instead, things are getting worse,” Mr. Jimmy said.

“We are sending a clear message to the federal government that the Nigerian youth are hungry. We need a change that this government promised us,” Mr. Jimmy said, adding that the protest had no political or ethnic affiliation.

Another young lawyer Enwongo Cleopas, who also spoke said it was high time the government started living up to expectations through provision of  a fair economic agenda that will alleviate the sufferings in the country.

Police officers were not seen around the amphitheatre in the plaza where the demonstration took place.

The protesters, who were mostly young man and women said they were fed up with President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

“I am sponsored by hunger. I am sponsored by the pains I go through every day,” another protester said.

Another protester, a graduate, said he was tired of going around dropping applications in several places without getting any response.

“I have a strong feeling that this protest could bring about something good,” he said.