Protesters at Eagles Square on Thursday shouted down the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, as he attempted to address them. The crowd drowned out the Minister’s speech with chants of “hunger dey,” refusing to let him speak.
After managing to calm the crowd, the Minister clarified that he wasn’t trying to stop the protest, identifying himself as a comrade who had participated in hundreds of protests. “I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to ask you not to protest, it is your right. Like I said, I’ve been to over 100-500 protests,” he assured them.
The Minister also promised to address the Police concerning the use of canisters against the protesters. Despite his assurances, the protesters remained adamant, refusing to join others at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, citing recent parallel protests that had proceeded without police interference.
