Celebs Speak On Fuel Subsidy, As Protesters Take Over Lagos

By Osagie Alonge

As announced earlier, the protest march which was organized by the Joint Task Front, Nigerian Labour Congress and other activist bodies in reaction to the controversial removal of  fuel subsidy held today Tuesday, January 3, 2012.

Tons of Lagosians gathered at the NLC secretariat, Yaba and walked to the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota as they sang and chanted anti subsidy, anti government and solidarity songs. However, there was a low turnout of celebrities and influential Nigerians at the march.

The few celebs that made appearances include Seun Kuti, son of the late Afrobeat legend Fela, Fela protege Dede Mabiaku, singer Banky W, broadcaster Funmi Iyanda, and Jesse Jagz. Other notable protesters include Gbenga Sesan, Lamide Akintobi, Tolu Ogunlesi, Bayo Omisore, and NET publisher Ayeni Adekunle. Activists Femi Falana, widow of Gani Fawehinmi Ganiyat, JTF president Dipo Fashina, Femi Aborishade and several others were also part of the peaceful protest

‘It’s been a long time since Nigerians came out en-masse like this. I guess it’s because it’s not a sex issue or tribal issue. It’s something that affects us all. That’s why we have come to speak against this inhumane behaviour by our government’, Seun Kuti told our reporters during the protest..

‘I think it’s time for Nigerians to stand and stop sleeping. It’s not just about fuel subsidy, it’s about corruption, about LightupNigeria, healthcare….you can’t just impact the lives of Nigerians negatively and not expect any backlash’, Banky W said.

According to Dede Mabiakwu, the demonstration is ‘called for, it’s about time. ‘I’m happier there are much younger people coming out nowadays. The government should think about the amount of ghost workers they have, irrelevant companies and parastatals. Nobody is being accounted for eating up money’.

Protesters lit bonfires on the usually busy Ikorodu road, in Lagos, turning back private and commuter vehicles, and taking over the entire road for the duration of the protest. Despite viral rumours about violence and Police shooting, our reporters who witnessed the Lagos protest say it was largely peaceful, in spite of heavy Police presence. A confrontation ensued at Ojota, between protesters and riot policemen, but it did not escalate. ‘It was largely organised and peaceful; even though there were initial fear bandits could hijack the demonstration‘, says our Chief Correspondent Osagie Alonge. However, there were reports of harassment and violence in other parts of the country where similar protests were held – with the possibility that one protester may have passed in Ilorin, Kwara state.

‘I’ve grown into this protest. I have come to understand in this life, the word freedom is not free, you must fight for it. Nigeria has not had any sort of freedom. As for the celebs, you can make all the music and shoot all the videos, you can make all the money, but this is us’, Jesse Jagz told NET.

Meanwhile, Mo’hits head-honcho Don Jazzy, whose lead artiste D’Banj campaigned for Goodluck Jonathan during the April 2011 polls says he regrets voting for the PDP president. ‘I hardly regret decisions I make. That my 1 vote added to put the current Govt in power is one decision i regret with all my heart’, Don Jazzy who was absent at the protest march tweeted.

Pictures follow below…