#EndBadGovernanceInNigeria: Protesters Shift Focus to Occupy Abuja on Monday

Just hours after President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide address on Sunday, where he urged an end to the ongoing #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protest that began on August 1, protesters have refused to comply. Instead, they announced plans to focus their demonstrations on the nation’s capital, Abuja, using the hashtag #OccupyAbuja on X.com.

One user, Stephen Osemwegie, tweeting as #PeterObiUSA, stated, “What Next? #EndBadGovernancelnNigeria. All roads lead to Abuja. Nigerians, wake up now. Every state, region, religion, and people. Stand up for your country now or never.”

Pro-democracy activist and 2023 African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, responded to Senator Ireti Kingigbe, saying, “You have a chance to lead the #EndBadGovernmentInNigeria protest to Eagle Square tomorrow (Monday). If your current health situation allows you to collect an SUV and all those jumbo allowances at the #NGRSenate, a trip to the protest ground would not kill you, Senator!”

Another user, Morior Invictus, tweeting as #PeterObIsComing, wrote, “Abuja protesters are doing their best, but the number needs to quadruple for Tinubu and Wike to understand how angry Nigerians are. 100,000 people can #OccupyAbuja and shut it down. But many are still scared to join the protest. We must #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria.”

Other X.com users echoed similar sentiments, calling for widespread participation in the protests in Abuja. The protest, which began on August 1, 2024, has seen Nigerians voicing their frustrations over the country’s low standard of living. Demonstrators are demanding the return of the fuel subsidy, reductions in the high cost of food items, improvements to national security, and a decrease in electricity tariffs, among other issues.