Eagle Square Use Non-Negotiable, Protest Leader Challenges Minister Wike

Damilare Adenola, a prominent activist and the Director of Mobilisation for the Take It Back Movement, has declared that the use of Eagle Square in Abuja for the upcoming #EndBadGovernance protest is non-negotiable. In a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Adenola insisted that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike must permit the demonstration, highlighting that Eagle Square is public property.

Adenola emphasized that the protest, driven by widespread economic hardship, will proceed nationwide in August. He pointed out that the soaring prices of food and basic commodities, exacerbated by the government’s removal of the petrol subsidy and unification of forex windows, have left many Nigerians struggling with unprecedented inflation.

A letter requesting permission to use Eagle Square, signed by Adenola and dated July 26, 2024, was publicized on social media. However, Minister Wike claimed on Saturday that he had not received the letter. Adenola attributed this delay to bureaucratic hurdles but assured that the letter would reach the minister by Monday, ahead of the protest scheduled to start on Thursday.

Adenola criticized Minister Wike’s demands for rent and security fees for the use of Eagle Square. “The Eagle Square is a public property,” Adenola stated. “How does the minister expect impoverished and unemployed Nigerian youths to afford such fees?”

He reiterated that the protest will proceed at Eagle Square on August 1st, asserting the right of Nigerians to use the space for expressing their grievances.

Adenola dismissed allegations that the protest organizers are faceless, stating that the real motivation behind the protest is the widespread hunger and unemployment affecting many Nigerians. “The organizers of the protest are hungry Nigerians, unemployed youths, and out-of-school children,” he said. “The greatest motivation for this #EndBadGovernance protest is hunger. People are really hungry.”

The activist also revealed that the Take It Back Movement’s bank account was blocked by United Bank for Africa (UBA) allegedly on the orders of the Department of State Services (DSS). He called on security agencies to ensure their presence at all protest venues to maintain order.

The nationwide rallies aim to address economic grievances and call for better governance, with a strong message that the youth of Nigeria are demanding change.