Hundreds of Policemen from the Edo State Police Command, DSS operatives, Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and local Vigilante operatives yesterday in Benin City,the Edo State capital clashed with Civil Rights groups,who were out to protest an alleged over 100% increment in cement and PMS.
The over 500 security agents as early as 8.00am, condoned the National Museum Benin City, locking up protesters,who were about using the museum as a venue for gathering before moving for the protest billed to take place the King Square,Ring Road, Benin City.
The shutting down of the gate also prevented staff of the national Museum and others who have businesses within the premises to carry out their daily business activities.
It was gathered that shutting down the gate was to prevent the reoccurrence of the #EndSARS that was hijacked by hoodlums.
Addressing newsmen at the premises of the protest, Comrade Kelly Osunbor said they only called for a peaceful protest to draw the attention of the government and those concerned to the plights of Nigerians that has further worsened by the recent hike in price of cement and that of the litre of petroleum but were allegedly restricted by the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Philip Ogbadu.
“We came here peacefully this morning, we mobilised all our members, coalition of civil society, students union, market women and even the Nigeria Bar Association is even with us.
“The CP of Edo State, mobilised hundreds of thousands of policemen with all the sister agencies, they locked us, they arrested us, they put us here, restricted our movement to move out on the street to protest peacefully and I called the CP, I enquired, your men said we should vacate this venue, he told me, get out of that venue or else, he will force us out.
“And I want to ask, is this the democracy that our ancestors fought for that was gotten with the blood of the Nigerian students in Lagos State University and other Universities? This is democracy, we have freedom of our movement, we have the constitutional rights to talk.
“The price of cement affects the police, it affects DSS, it affects the market women and it is only the politicians it does affect and even though cement is one million, they can afford it”, he said.
He saidwith the recent hike in the prices of cement, there is every likelihood that an average Nigerian can’t boast of owning a house except the political class.
“If cement is sold for N4000, how much is a minimum wage? If a trip of sand is sold for N30,000, how much is a minimum wage? That means that the average income earner in Nigeria cannot dream of owning a house in his life time.
“Politicians have enslaved us politically, now they want to also enslaved us economically.
” In the history of Nigeria, market women used to own a house, it may not be a house that is in Ikoyi or GRA, or in Etete here in Benin but the way it is now, an average income earner, market woman can never own a house”, he said.
Also speaking, the national spokesperson for Nigerian Students and Youth Association, (NISAYA), Comrade Osemudamen Elvis Ogbidi, noted that it is unfortunate that state has the raw materials for the production of cement yet still buys the finished product at a very exorbitant price.
“In this same Edo State, we have cement factory and it has been converted to a private individuals and that cement is being sold for N4000.
“Those of you who travel along Auchi-Lokoja-Abuja road, you will see a limestone tower that is built across at Okpilla, these people are transporting our limestones for free and yet, they are selling this same cement at a very cost rate”, Ogbidi said.
Comrade Precious Oruche while lamenting the current hikes and suffering confronting the citizens of the country, noted that the desire to leave the country has topped the most priority of youths.
“People are suffering, people cannot even pay their rents,
“We are tired of this country and the best thing that can happen to any youth now is to get other countries visas and leave this country.
“Is it supposed to be so? We all wished to leave this country. We are tired of this country. We are no longer saying that you should not loot our money but don’t let us die in hunger
“Reverts, and set up taskforce to regulate the prices of things”, she said.
