August 2, 2024
Unlike Thursday, business activities across Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, picked up on Friday the day two of the #endbadgoverance protest across the country.
Although protest groups continued their marches through the streets, residents demonstrated greater resolve by resuming their lawful businesses.
The protests began on Thursday, August 1, with two distinct groups the Oyo State Coalition Against Hardship and the Take it Back Movement, marched through major parts of Ibadan.
Both groups also hit the street on Friday in continuation of their effort but there was a slight decline in the number of protesters who engaged in the protest march from both groups.
The “Oyo State Coalition Against Hardship” group who assembled and took off at the University of Ibadan (UI) Gate went through Orogun, down to Ojoo before terminating at UI where they dispersed for the day and announced a continuation of the protest on Monday.
As they moved across the road, singing solidarity songs, peaceful on one side of the road, vehicular movement was diverted to the other side of the road.
Some shop owners who were on standby also cheered and chanted with them as the protesters walked past. Some residents also offer the protesters some water, drinks and snacks.
Also, the “Take it Back Movement”, whose rendezvous has been the Rose Wale Petroleum Station, Iwo Road, headed towards Challenge
There was also an increased vehicular movement on the roads as commercial cabs and motorcycle operators were out for business in good numbers
In the same vein, more business owners opened shop early this morning while some others who opened only displayed a few stocks.
Petrol stations also opened for business and sold the product freely.
Major interstate motor parks and garages were also active and fully functional. Number of travellers was also observed to be higher than what was obtainable on the first day of the protest.
However, there were security operatives who were visible at different locations across the capital city and combined security operatives were also seen on patrol across the city.
Like the first day of the protest, the Oyo State government Secretariat was also opened and few offices were also opened within the Secretariat, indicating that some workers reported for duty.
