A crowd of protesters, mostly youths, on Saturday took over major streets in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, chanting that President Muhammadu Buhari must go and denouncing what they termed bad governance, insecurity, poverty and other vices, plaguing the country. This was just as major markets in the capital city, namely Dugbe, Alesinloye, Gbagi, Sango were shut, while shop owners and other business concerns refused to open over fears that the protests may snowball into violence.
Despite warning from security agencies, the protesters marched through strategic areas, such as Bodija, Mokola, University of Ibadan and Iwo Road and Sango.
Armed with placards, banners and Nigerian national flags, the protesters initially converged at Mokola and proceeded towards the bridge where another group of demonstrators were already waiting for them.
Though, the protesters sang and shouted Buhari must go in the presence of the security agents for some minutes, none of them was harassed before they turned and moved towards Sango.
Speaking to journalists, one of the protesters, Tayo Ogunwale, stated: “They cannot stop us from expressing our minds. The country is upside down and the President keeps giving excuses. Despite his colossal failure which is obvious to even his supporters, he has never accepted that he has failed us.
Another protester, an unemployed graduate, Aisat, said she learnt how to bake a cake and sew when she could not secure a job, lamenting that “I make some sales using Twitter and he woke up one day and banned it.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, drove into the procession of the June 12 protesters.
Makinde, who was accompanied by a few security personnel, met the protesters at the Osuntokun Junction along UI-Secretariat road. Addressing the protesters from the open roof of his Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), he advised them to be peaceful and guard against hoodlums, who may hijack their protest.
