On Tuesday, protesters besieged the residence of Nyesom Wike, former governor of Rivers State and now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, vehemently singing the old national anthem.
As the nationwide hunger demonstrations entered their sixth day, the protesters marched to Wike’s residence, holding palm fronds.
Despite heavy presence of security operatives at the mansion, most of the demonstrators sat on the tarred road in front of the house.
Peoples Gazette reports that a police tank stationed nearby kept the demonstrators at a distance, but they continued chanting the “Arise, O compatriots” anthem and waving their palm fronds.
Since last Thursday, protests have erupted across various states, with demonstrators voicing their frustrations over economic issues like rising inflation, naira devaluation, and fuel subsidy removal.
Wike, who opposed the protests from the start, denied approval for the use of Eagles Square in Abuja as a protest venue when the rights group, Take It Back movement, requested it.
In July, he pleaded with demonstrators not to protest, arguing that the current economic challenges were a necessary sacrifice for the nation’s future.
“Hunger has been since before now. Ours is to support the government to succeed. I know the pain you are passing through. It is your sacrifice for the country,” he said.
