JAF leads Thousands in Protest against Cruel Hike in Petrol Price

In Lagos about 5000 people stormed the street on Tuesday January 3, 2012 in response to the call of JAF for mass action against cruel hike in the price of petrol from N65 to about N150 under the guise of fuel subsidy removal. Activities at the ever-busy Ikorodu Road were paralysed for more than 5 hours the protest lasted.

The protest rally led by Dipo Fashina and Biodun Aremu, the National Chair and National Secretary of JAF respectively  took off by 8am at the NLC secretariat Yaba and moved from Yaba to Lawanson road  before returning to Ojuelegba and headed to Ikorodu Road.

The protest march , which was also joined by Ganiyat Fawenhimi, widow of the late foremost human rights defender and champion of the cause of the masses, Gani;  Femi Falana, Femi Aborisade, Segun Sango, Issa Aremu, NLC vice president, Samuel Kolawole and TUC General Secretary, among other prominent activists, was terminated at Gani park Ojota. There was also JAF delegation from Ibadan led by Demola Aremu, the chair of the Oyo state chapter, in attendance.

The Jan 3 action was just the kick-off of a series of mass activities against this anti-poor neo-liberal attack by Jonathan government  . Other activities  nationwide by JAF as well as in collaboration with labour partners (JAF and TUC) will be announced later. We however call on Nigerians to form action committees in communities and organise various legitimate activities on daily basis to defeat this anti-poor agenda. Also importantly, as we struggle against the fuel price hike,  we must realise that there is urgent need for a working people political alternative to wrest power from this thieving, anti-poor government  which is a marionette of IMF and World Bank