In a dramatic twist, Deji Adeyanju has affirmed that the nationwide protest scheduled for August 1 will proceed as planned, despite recent reports suggesting otherwise. Early Thursday, Adeyanju firmly denied claims that the protest had been called off by youth groups.
Reports surfaced that the group Rising Up for a United Nigeria, which had initially endorsed the protest, allegedly decided to cancel it after a meeting in Abuja. These claims suggested that President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to addressing the country’s challenges had influenced their decision.
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Adeyanju responded with a sharp rebuttal, stating, “None of the organisers have pulled out of the protest. The people pulling out are just people who have gone to collect money. They were never part of the protest initially.” He emphasized that the protest would proceed as planned, backed by the determination of Nigerians nationwide.
He also highlighted a letter addressed to the Chief of Army Staff on July 30, 2024, requesting that “soldiers remain in the barracks during the protest to prevent a repeat of the killing of protesters like during EndSARS.” This step aims to ensure the safety of participants.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Justice Sylvanus Oriji of the Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued an ex-parte order restricting protests in Abuja to the National Stadium, also known as MKO Abiola Stadium.
