A coalition of civil society organisations in Edo State has given 48 hours ultimatum to Edo State Government to halt its compulsory vaccination order or risk a shutdown of the state.
Governor Godwin Obaseki had earlier declared that unvaccinated people should not be allowed to gain access to government establishments, banks, worship and event centres in the state.
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The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as: “We will reject any forms of executive rascality”, “Covid-19 vaccination is a choice, not by force” and “Obaseki, obey court order, hunger killing us not Covid-19”.
Speaking with journalists, on Monday in Benin, Coordinator-General, Edo State Civil Society Organization (EDOSCO), Curtis Ogbebor, said the state is not the worst hit among the 36 states of the federation and wondered why the governor has made the vaccine compulsory.
“In other climes, where the virus is worse, they have not forced the vaccine on the citizens, rather they keep persuading them to see reasons for taking the vaccine.
“We are not against the vaccine but forceful vaccination. We gave the governor 48 hours to halt the order,” he said.
On his part, the national spokesperson for the Nigerian Students and Youth Association, (NISAYA), Comrade Osemudamen Elvis Ogbidi, urged the governor to listen to the yearning of the masses.
“When we come out again, we are not going to waste our strength by running from pillar to post, we are going to be shutting down government parastatals.
“We are going to be shutting down banks, we are going to be shutting down agencies,” he said.
