Ogun State indigenes on Wednesday took to the streets in their hundred to protest the COVID-19 lockdown in the state. Traders, artisans, men, women and youths all came out to complain about the adverse effect of the lockdown.
The locals, it was gathered, had earlier marched to the Government House in Isale Igbein area of Abeokuta, thinking Governor Dapo Abiodun was there to attend to them, only to be reportedly dispersed by policemen from Ibara Divisional Police Headquarters, as they were made to realise the Governor was not there.
Governor Abiodun, according to reports, has not moved into the official residence since May 29, 2019.
The protesters, it was learnt, later regrouped and moved to the palace of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, saying they were hungry and tired of the lockdown.
In a video that surfaced on social media, some of the protesters were seen rolling on the floor to demonstrate to the Alake that their means of livelihood had been truncated.
Speaking to them, the Alake urged the people to be calm.
The monarch, who has reportedly been distributing food items to the poor in Abeokuta, assured the people that he would get more relief packages from donors to cushion the effects of the lockdown.
He said they would be informed through the radio when the food items are ready, adding that he would communicate their message to the government.
