FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL PROTEST: Ekiti: Catholic bishop leads protests

CATHOLIC  Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, The Most Reverend Felix Femi Ajakaye, was among the protesters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
Bishop Ajakaye  joined other protesters at Ajilosun and marched with them through the Old Garage and Ijigbo and addressed the crowd at Fajuyi Park along with other leaders of various groups that had earlier formed a coalition.
Also, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr  Olayinka Balogun, personally coordinated security during the protest march, with many police vans  and three armoured personnel carriers in tow conveying anti-riot policemen.
Policemen were also stationed at strategic parts of the town to prevent a breakdown of law and order, but some protesters still made bonfires at Odo Ado and Adebayo areas of Ado Ekiti, thereby blocking major roads.
The strike was totally effective in Ekiti State with workers staying at home while most business premises were under lock and key.
Commercial motorcyclists were also almost non-existent on Monday with people in Bashiri and other outskirts of the town who must go out resorted to trekking.
It was gathered from some of the banks in the state capital that only workers who had vehicles made it to the office early enough to beat the commencement of the protest, but the branches did not open to customers.
Chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, Ayodeji Aluko and Kolawole Olaiya respectively were also among the leaders of the protest.
Also among the protesters were the Save Nigeria Group/Campaign for Democracy; Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) as well as students.
Addressing the crowd, Bishop Ajakaye expressed regret that President Goodluck Jonathan is running a deceptive government, especially on his evasive stand on the issue of the removal of fuel subsidy, which he said was a policy that would further impoverish the people.
The cleric said: “I am a Nigerian and I am deeply interested in the Nigeria project. I can’t fold my arms because I am a Bishop and allow my people to suffer. We need to be visionaries and pursue causes that would not make Nigeria to fall apart.”
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