Ayodele Olawande, the minister of state for youth development, was heckled by demonstrators as he entered Eagles Square in Abuja to speak to them.
The demonstrators persisted in chanting “hunger dey,” which stopped the minister from speaking as he attempted to address the assembly.
After calming the throng, the minister clarified that he was not trying to end the demonstration and identified himself as a fellow protestor who had participated in between one hundred and five hundred.
“I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to ask you not to protest, it is your right. Like I said, I’ve been to over 100-500 protests,” he said.
The minister further promised that he would speak with the police about the use of tear gas against the demonstrators.
Protesters, meanwhile, have stated that they will not join the others at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, citing the fact that a parallel demonstration was held there a few days prior without any police intervention.
