Oil Subsidy Removal Protesters Shut Down Warri, Effurun And Udu In Delta State
The oil city of Warri, neighboring Effurun , Udu and environs in Delta State were shut down Monday following a mass protest by irate citizens protesting the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
The protest, which was in compliance with the directive of the organized labour and civil society was led by the Delta state coordinator of the NLC/TUC and civil society group, Casely Omon-Irabor Esq.
As at 6.00 am, Omon-Irabor was already at the take-off point of the mass protest in Warri, according to findings to coordinate the day’s event, while people started gathering at about 7.30 am.
The protest commenced in Warri some few minutes to 9.00 am at the old Warri Port gate withprayers and advice from the organizers to the protesters to be orderly.
The previous night, there was an unconfirmed report that Boko Haram suicide bombers and members with guns and machete had infiltrated the subsidy protests in Lagos, Abuja, Edo, Delta, Kaduna, Kwara and Rivers states to cause mayhem.
Labour leaders and citizens were urged to be watchout for infiltrators, but in Warri, there was a heavy presence of security agents, as the protesters marched from old Warri Port enroute Effurun roundabout toGovernment House Annex, along the NPA expressway. There was total compliance as shops, markets,offices and banks were all locked up. The main market, Warri and Okere marketwere also closed.
Omon-Irabor addressed the public at Okere market junction, stating reasons for the mass protests by Nigerians and calling all citizens to reject the bad policy, no matter the inconvenience. He said the will of people would certainly triumph over the dictates of the powerful few in Aso Villa. He said the motion passed, Sunday, by the House of Representatives calling on the Federal Government to suspend the about 120 percent increase in the price of fuel was an indication that even those in government know that the decision was ill advised, adding that except the price of petrol was reverted to the old price of N65, the protests would continue.
As at 11.51 am, the protesters have reached EnerhenJunction and in the words of Oghenejabor Ikimi, “It is a peaceful protest and ahuge success. I can tell you that there is total compliance. Warri and environswere shut down. The protest here is a massive one”.
“I urge the president to respect the views of Nigerians and their representatives in the House of Representatives by suspending the removal of subsidy on petrol before dialoging with Nigerians on the way forward”, he asserted.
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