There were protests yesterday in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, Lagos, Osun and Edo states over increasing spate of insecurity and maladministration in Nigeria.
The protesters included rights activists, civil society organizations (CSOs), labour unionists, youth bodies and other members of the society.
In Lagos, activist-lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his musician son, Falz, joined the protest against insecurity, unemployment, mass poverty and bad governance.
He and the other peaceful protesters carried placards with different inscriptions.
The theme of the protest Falana led was: National Day of Action Against Insecurity in Nigeria.
The popular lawyer and his group marched to the Lagos State secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja, the state capital.
They were received by members of the State House of Assembly.
Falana told the lawmakers that there was a need to provide for the poor so that peace could be guaranteed in the country.
He urged states that had not adopted the Child Rights Act to urgently do so and take the children off the streets to enable them get an education.
“The Southwest has 54 universities; graduates are being churned out daily but nobody is planning for their future.
“We are asking you because Lagos is where everybody comes to. This is the home of every Nigerian, and we are asking you to intensify your efforts and increase the budget of the poor so that there will be peace.
“It is now clear in our country that without peace for the poor, there cannot be peace for the rich. For those who want to fight banditry and terrorism, we must put all our children in school,” Falana said.
Credit: Extract from TheNation
