Obaseki blames FG for hardship

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said the hardship in the country is blamable on the policies of the Federal Government.

This was as hunger protesters in Edo State held a church service on the street.

Obaseki, in a statement issued on Sunday, said his government had implemented several people-oriented programmes to reduce the suffering of Edo people in the wake of the difficult living conditions which the people have had to endure, arising from various policies that had been implemented by the Federal Government.

Obaseki listed some of the programmes to ameliorate the sufferings of the people to include raising the minimum wage for workers to N70,000 to boost their purchasing power, introducing a free transport scheme along the routes operated by the Edo City Transport Service, extending free Wi-Fi services to public spaces to help citizens telecommute and kick-starting a state-wide feeding for the vulnerable implemented in partnership with Christians and Muslim institutions, among others.

Obaseki said, “The protest is obviously the result of the difficult living conditions which Nigerians have had to endure particularly over the last one year, arising from various policies that have been implemented by the Federal Government.

“These policies have taken a severe toll on citizens who have had to endure astronomic high food prices, high transportation costs, galloping inflation and loss of operating capital by small business owners across the country.

“In Edo State, we have taken several actions within our constitutional authority to reduce the suffering and hardship of our people by showing empathy and supporting our people to weather and survive this trying time despite the challenges witnessed across the nation.”

Reports revealed that some protesters in the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests continued their protest on Sunday and held a Church service on the road as part of Sunday activities in the state.

Some Civil Society Organisations had on Saturday withdrawn from the protest, opting to wait for President Bola Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on Sunday morning before deciding on their next line of action.

However, at the Agho Junction on Ekehuan Road where the church service held, the protesters sang and danced while praising God and calling for an end to bad governance.

The protesters barricaded the road during the church service, restricting vehicular movement.

Soldiers in convoy were seen patrolling the major roads in the state with a view to clear any barricade placed by protesters.

The Coordinator of the Edo State Civil Society Organisation, Agho Omobude, said the protest was for 10 days and would continue as the President failed to address the protesters’ demands.