The countdown to the highly anticipated nationwide protest, set for August 1 to August 10, has begun, and organizers have laid out their bold demands for President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The movement, branded as “Days of Rage” and “EndBadGovernance,” aims to address widespread economic distress and governance issues.
Prominent activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has revealed the protest’s demands, sending a clear message to the government. The protesters are calling for sweeping changes, including:
- Reinstatement of Fuel Subsidy: Restore the subsidy to alleviate the financial strain on Nigerians.
- Power Sector Overhaul: Address and rectify the persistent issues in the electricity sector.
- Release of Nnamdi Kanu: Free the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) from DSS custody.
- Diaspora Voting Rights: Implement voting rights for Nigerians living abroad.
- Constitutional Reform: Scrap the 1999 Constitution in favor of a new, people-crafted document through a sovereign National Conference and referendum.
- Legislative Reform: Abolish the Senate and convert the House of Representatives to a part-time body.
- Increased Minimum Wage: Set a new minimum wage of N250,000 per month.
- Education Investment: Shift to grants rather than loans for students and push for free, compulsory education.
- Release of Detainees: Free all ENDSARS and political detainees, with compensation for their suffering.
- Anti-Corruption Measures: Probe and recover loot from past and present leaders, using funds for education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
- Security and Judicial Reform: Overhaul security agencies to curb human rights abuses, and reform the judiciary to ensure justice and combat corruption.
- Electoral Reform: Reconstitute the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove corrupt and partisan elements.
- Economic Development: Invest in public works and industrialization to create jobs and boost the economy.
Despite President Tinubu’s appeal for calm and a call for faith in his administration’s capacity to drive change, the protest organizers remain resolute. They insist that these demands are crucial for addressing the nation’s economic and governance crises.
With a comprehensive list of demands and a growing movement behind them, the “Days of Rage” protest is set to make waves, as Nigerians prepare to take to the streets to voice their frustrations and push for a better future.